Federal Minister of Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal said that the present government was pursuing proactive policies to overcome energy crisis and security challenges.
Speaking at the inaugural session of Middle East South Asia CEO Summit, on Friday, he said Pakistan would get rid of energy crisis and load shedding in coming six to seven years. The minister said Pakistan was jointly working with China on various power projects and in next five years 22,000 mega watts were expected to be added to the national power grid.
Pakistan was utilising every option available for power generation including enhancing hydro-power production, expediting Thar Coal project and exploring renewable resources while negotiations were also underway with the US, European Union and other friendly countries in this regard, he said.
Foreign investors were reluctant to invest in Pakistan just a year ago, but thanks to positive and lucrative investment policies of the present government foreign investment has started coming in, he said. The minister said some recent unpleasant incidents took place in Karachi and media did not acknowledge and highlight the way the security forces met with this challenge.
In Karachi airport attack, four personnel of the airport security force valiantly restrained the terrorists from storming the airport and kept them engaged till arrival of the Army and Rangers, he said, adding that this glorious act of valor should have been acknowledged by media.