Natural resources to be fully utilized to overcome energy shortage: PM

Inaugurating Pakistan’s first on grid Solar power generation system‚ Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan is blessed with immense natural resources and these will be fully utilized to overcome the energy shortages.
He said the government is alive to the problems of the people on the account of energy shortages and is exploring indigenous resources including hydel and renewable to overcome this problem once and for all.
He said the inauguration of the first on-grid solar power generation system is a reflection of the government’s resolve to achieve power self-sufficiency.
He said realizing the country’s growing power demand for the industry‚ agriculture and above all domestic sector‚ the present democratic government has initiated several projects in the energy sector.
“These projects not only tap the conventional but also the renewable energy resources including wind‚ solar and biomass”, he said.
“We seek international investment in this vital sector to build projects that can rid Pakistan of scourge of load-shedding‚ which has so adversely affected our economic growth.”
Prime Minister Gilani pointed out that the identified potential of power generation from wind is about 43‚000 MW‚ whereas for solar‚ it is much more than 100‚000 MW.
“Under the scenario of climate change and melting of glaciers‚ the harnessing of renewable energy resources has also been given priority. The present government is continuously working to facilitate the investors and is making reforms in the renewable energy sector”, he said.
Emphasizing upon the energy conservation‚ Prime Minister Gilani said the electricity should not be used as a luxury but to fulfill the optimal requirements.
On the occasion‚ the prime minister announced five-tier service structure and time-scale promotions for the engineers throughout the country.