President and senior officials of a renowned international energy company led by German Ambassador Dr Cyrill Nunn met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in which co-operation with regard to energy sector particularly projects of gas power plants in Punjab was discussed. Talking to the delegation, Shahbaz Sharif said the best trade and friendly relations existed between Pakistan and Germany.
He said Germany was an important trade partner of Pakistan, adding that trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Germany had improved in recent years and friendship contacts between both the countries are further strengthening. Referring to the energy crisis in Pakistan, the Chief Minister said the government was taking steps expeditiously for coping with energy crisis being faced by the country.
He said energy projects were being executed with traditional as well as renewable sources for overcoming energy crisis. Shahbaz Sharif said that a huge amount of 33 billion dollars was for energy projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor and work had been started on energy projects under CPEC. The Chief Minister while mentioning 100 megawatt solar project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park, Bahawalpur said that Punjab government had completed biggest and first Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park of Pakistan in a record period at Bahawalpur, South Punjab and the production of electricity had been started from this 100 megawatt solar project set up by Punjab government whereas the work on 900 megawatt project was continuing speedily with the co-operation of China.
With regard to gas-based energy projects, Shahbaz Sharif said that a programme of generating 3,600 megawatt electricity through gas had been evolved in Punjab. He said Punjab government would set up projects of 1,200 megawatts while federal government of 2,400 megawatts through gas and all preliminary preparations had been completed in that regard.
He said Germany had special expertise in setting up projects of electricity through gas and solar and German technology was an admitted fact in that regard. The Chief Minister said that 3,600 megawatt gas-based electricity projects would start production by 2017. He said all energy projects were being completed speedily and in a highly transparent manner and those projects would start generating electricity by the end of 2017.
Speaking on the occasion, members of the German delegation have expressed their willingness for working with Punjab in energy sector. They said Shahbaz Sharif and his entire team were working with devotion and commitment and they would extend all possible co-operation to Punjab government in energy sector.
The delegation included President International Energy Company Achim Kawert, Guenter Zwicki and other senior officials. Provincial Minister for Minerals Sher Ali Khan, Chairman Punjab Power Development Company Chaudhry Arif Saeed, Additional Chief Secretary Energy, Secretaries Energy, Agriculture, Minerals and concerned officials were also present on the occasion.
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