The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) on Saturday said that hydro power potential of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) can change the fate of country by resolving energy crisis with its capacity estimated to be 50,000 megawatt.
Thermal energy is costly while hydel power offer cheapest source of energy for long-term and permanent solution to the energy crisis, said FPCCI President Abdul Rauf Alam.
He said this while talking to Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman. FPCCI Vice President Johar Ali Raki and others were also present on the occasion.
Rauf Alam said that hydro energy was environment-friendly, low-cost and economically viable. It could save billions of dollars required to import fuel for power generation that resulted in costly agricultural and industrial production, he added.
The potential of run-of-the-river projects in GB was phenomenal; 7,400 megawatt of energy can be generated at a power plant in Bunji with two additional projects of 2,000 megawatt each upstream from this location, he added
He said the government as well as the private sector must exploit the enormous power production potential in GB which could help them not only in overcoming energy crisis but also export electricity.
Moreover, the 72,000 square miles area with around 1.3 million people had the potential for rapid development based on tourism, hospitality, mining, food processing, dry fruits, gems and jewellery and farming, he said. He noted that the number of tourists could be doubled with little effort while establishing tax-free zones could attract investment while new policies should be evolved to facilitate local and foreign investments.
Similarly said about Thar Coal project and for two decades !
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