The Punjab government and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have agreed to enhance cooperation in energy sector and the bank would set up solar energy projects under public-private partnership in the province.
The first such project will be completed within a year whereas the ADB would complete 2,000 megawatt solar energy projects within two years in Punjab. Besides solar energy, the bank would also extend cooperation in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro-energy projects.
It was agreed during a meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and ADB delegation at Model Town on Saturday.
Senior Advisor of ADB for public-private partnership, central and West Asian Department, Chin Chooon Fong, Nianshan Zhang, Adrian Torres, Shauzab Ali, Energy Minister Sher Ali Khan and the chief secretary were also present.
Talking to the delegation, Shahbaz said that setting up of solar energy projects in Punjab by the ADB was a welcoming step. He expressed his desire that the work should be started on these projects expeditiously and completed at the earliest so that people could get rid of electricity crisis. He said the PML-N government has made a promise to the people to reduce energy crisis and it would have to fulfill this promise at all costs. The CM said that besides solar energy, the ADB should also extend cooperation in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro energy projects and result oriented steps should be taken speedily in this regard. He said that load shedding has caused irreparable loss to agriculture, industry and economy. Shahbaz said, “We have no other option except to reduce energy crisis and have to march forward with supersonic speed for this purpose.”
