Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that government is implementing several power projects expeditiously for meeting energy requirements of the country and special incentives are being offered to local and foreign investors for setting up new projects. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government is determined to rid the people of energy crisis and sincere efforts are being made for overcoming shortage of electricity and gas.
He said that there are vast opportunities of investment in energy sector in Punjab and Canadian investors should come forward for investment in this sector. He assured that government would extend all out encouragement to Canadian investors. He was talking to the President of Pakistan-Canada Business Council, Samir Dossal who met him at Chief Minister's Office, here Tuesday. Provincial Minister for Industry Muhammad Shafique, Chairman Planning & Development, Addl. Chief Secretary Energy, Secretary Industry, Chairman Punjab Investment Board and other senior officers were also present.
Matters regarding promotion of trade and economic activities between Pakistan and Canada especially promotion of investment in energy sector were discussed in the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan is facing serious challenges including energy crisis but the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is making rapid progress towards overcoming these problems. He said that energy crisis has badly affected all sectors of life and caused irreparable damage to agriculture, industry and trade sectors.
Shahbaz said that former rulers totally ignored this sector and due to wrong policies and criminal negligence of the former rulers, Pakistan is facing severe energy problem. He said that PML-N government is taking measures on war-footing to overcome this issue. He said that special incentives are being given to foreign investors in energy sector and a number of agreements have been signed with Chinese, German and Canadian companies for collaboration in this sector and investors of these countries are investing billions of dollars in power sector in Punjab.
He said that work is being carried out expeditiously on solar power projects in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park Bahawalpur and Punjab government is also setting up a 100-megawatt energy project in Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park with its own resources which would be completed by the beginning of next year. He said that Nandipur Power Project which was delayed due to greed and lust for money of the former rulers has been revived.
Speaking on the occasion, President Pakistan-Canada Business Council Samir Dossal said that there are a number of opportunities of cooperation between Pakistan and Canada in energy and other sectors and Pakistan-Canada Business Council would play a positive role in this regard.
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