The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is doing everything it can to plug the energy deficit to boost industrial production, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Mohammad Asif said on Tuesday, describing the United States as a valuable partner in the energy sector.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a two-day Pakistan-US conference on energy, he jointly inaugurated along with the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the minister for power said that the main focus of the government is to plug the energy deficit, using sources that are climate friendly.
He said that about 3,000 to 4,000 MW electricity was expected to be added to the national grid over the next two years, using solar and wind projects. Similarly, he said, Pakistan would have up to 4,000 MW generated through hydel resources by 2019-20. About 3,000 MW would come into the national grid by 2018, he added.
He said the focus of the conference, being organized by USAID, is to highlight opportunities in Pakistan’s clean energy sector.
Asif lauded the valuable contribution of the USAID in Pakistan’s energy sector in addition to assisting in infrastructure projects. The conference has attracted US investors as well as experts and investors from Pakistan’s private sector and is being attended by Pakistani and US government officials.
Responding to a question, the minister for water and power said there had been substantial achievements in the hydel sector.
When the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took over, there was a choice between Dasu and Diamir Bhasha “to do either Dasu or Bhasha,” he said but added that because of the efforts of the government, both projects were on the active list.
Due to the intervention of the US government and WAPDA, first phase of DASU was fully financed and the interest had also been generated for Diamir Bhasha dam.
With regard to Bhasha dam, he said Pakistan’s government will have to take initiative that will help attract funding from international investors.
Lauding the role of the United States in Pakistan’s economic development, he said that the recent visit by the prime minister to the United States had further strengthened the dimensions of economic relationship.
Earlier, in his remarks, Ambassador Jalil Abbas Jilani said that the conference is taking place at a time of good relations between Pakistan and the United States.
He said that relations between the two countries are on a very positive trajectory and the developments which have taken place in the last couple of years offer hope of further solidifying the relationship.
The ambassador said that the presence of two senior ministers demonstrates the seriousness of the Pakistan government in pursuing energy sector development.
He highly appreciated the role of the US government for extending excellent cooperation to Pakistan in this important area. Because of this cooperation, 1,200 MW of electricity has been added to the national grid, he added.
He said the conference followed a similar conference for Diamir Basha last year, which helped raised investors’ interest. He hoped that this year’s conference would be another step forward in efforts to further cement relations between the two countries.
The ambassador particularly mentioned about the priorities of the government which, he added, were focused in four areas including extremism, economic revival, energy sector and education.
The ambassador said that the backbone of terrorists had been broken in Pakistan and the menace would soon be eliminated from the country.
On economic revival, he said, the country had made remarkable progress which had been duly acknowledged by the international agencies, and added that all economic indicators were now positive.
The two-day conference is part of the US-Pakistan Clean Energy Partnership, launched earlier this year, which seeks to advance energy sector reforms, improve Pakistan’s investment framework, and ultimately add 3,000 MW of clean energy by 2019.
The conference will support significant new private sector investments in Pakistan in clean energy generation, transmission, and distribution.
Since 2009, the United States and Pakistan have established extensive cooperation on energy, coordinated through the Energy Working Group under the US-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue.
Recognizing the critical importance of increasing energy security and access in a clean, sustainable manner, the United States has committed more than $1 billion to date to support energy sector investments and reforms in cooperation with the government of Pakistan.
