Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid has said the government is striving to exploit the vast potential of renewable energy to meet the growing energy requirements of the country.
He was speaking at a function in connection with biomass energy project in Islamabad on Friday.
The project will be completed in four years with the cooperation of United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
The Minister said several wind energy projects are in the pipeline and 2500 megawatt of electricity will be generated through this source by 2015. Similarly‚ attention is also being given to exploit the potential of solar energy.
He said Pakistan is an agriculture country and has abundant resources of biomass‚ which could be utilized to significantly meet the requirements of industrial sector hit hard by the energy crisis.
Pervaiz Rashid pointed out, “The country was facing shortfall of five thousand megawatt when the present government assumed the power.” He says “The government retired circular debt of about four hundred and eighty billion rupees‚ which increased the power generation to the record 17000 megawatt.”
He added, “Steps have also been taken to remove inefficiency in the transmission system and a campaign is also continuing against those involved in gas and power theft.”
Work on Neelum Jhelum hydel power project has also been expedited and this project is now expected to be completed by 2016.