LAHORE: Punjab government and Asian Development Bank on Saturday agreed to enhance cooperation in energy sector, as the ADB would set up solar energy projects under public-private partnership in Punjab.
It was agreed in meeting between Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and the ADB Bank delegation here at Model Town. The ADB Senior Advisor for Public-Private Partnership, Central and West Asian Department Chin Chooon Fong, Nianshan Zhang, Adrian Torres, Shauzab Ali, Punjab Energy Minister Sher Ali Khan and high-ups of relevant departments were also present.
The first project of solar energy would be completed within a year, whereas ADB would complete 2000 mega watt solar energy projects within two years in Punjab, besides extending cooperation in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro energy projects.
On this occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said that setting up of solar energy projects in Punjab by the ADB was a welcoming step. He expressed his desire that the work should be started on these projects expeditiously and completed at the earliest so that people could get rid of electricity crisis.
The Chief Minister said the PML-N government had made a promise to the people to reduce energy crisis and it would have to fulfil this promise at all costs.
Besides solar energy, he said, the ADB should also extend cooperation in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro energy projects and result-oriented steps should be taken speedily in this regard. He added that load-shedding had caused irreparable loss to agriculture, industry and economy.
Shahbaz Sharif said, "We have no other option except to reduce energy crisis and have to march forward with supersonic speed for this purpose." He said, if Punjab government could complete gigantic metro bus project within 11 months, then there was no reason that energy projects could not be set up at the earliest.
The ADB Senior Advisor Chin Chooon Fong said that besides solar energy, Asian Development Bank would also extend cooperation in coal, biomass, biogas and hydro energy projects and try its best to complete the first project at the earliest.
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