Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Punjab government is going to hold Provincial Energy Conference on August 1 (today), in which a large number of investors will participate. He expressed hope that the Provincial Energy Conference will be helpful in eliminating energy crisis in the province. He said that the opportunities of investment in energy sector will also help in overcoming energy crisis.
He was presiding over a high level meeting with regard to holding Provincial Energy Conference at CM’s Office. Addressing the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said that resolution of energy crisis was the top priority. He said that former rulers have shown criminal negligence with the country and the nation by ignoring energy sector badly and the people have rejected them in general elections. He vowed that PML-N government will rid the nation of energy crisis.
The chief minister said that federal government has announced National Energy Policy with the consultation of four provinces and it was agreed in the Council of Common Interests that the gas and electricity theft should be declared as non-bailable crimes.
Shahbaz said work was being done for generating energy through alternative and renewable sources for solving energy crisis. He said that projects were being planned for generating energy through biogas, solar and hydle sources in Punjab. He said that one thousand megawatts electricity can be generated through the bagasse of 46 sugar mills in Punjab.
Shahbaz said that as per promise, government has paid the circular debts of Rs 480 billion. Had former rulers paid attention to energy sector, the country would not have been reached at the verge of disaster today, he added.
The chief minister, while expressing indignation during the meeting over granting of two years period for completion of transmission line and not announcing tariff for solar energy by the officials of NEPRA and NTDC, said that if these institutions had performed their duties honestly and efficiently, the people would not have been on roads and the country plunged into darkness. He ordered NEPRA and NTDC officials to dispose of all necessary matters immediately.
Shahbaz directed that the land allocated for solar energy in Cholistan be named after Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park. He said that besides Chinese investors, local investors should also be motivated to set up solar plants there. The chief minister said that the work of laying separate transmission line for solar power plants should be completed within a year and a project should be prepared and presented at the earliest in this regard. He said that Punjab government should accelerate the process of setting up small hydle projects at canals and rivers and Taunsa Power Project be completed at the earliest.
He said that payment of circular debts, operation against electricity and gas theft and launching of Nandipur Power Project are the biggest steps towards resolution of energy crisis. Secretary Energy gave a briefing with regard to investment in energy sector in Punjab and holding of energy conference during the meeting.
Provincial Energy Conference today
