Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said Pakistan is facing severe energy crisis and Pakistan Muslim League-N is making sincere efforts to overcome energy problem. He said the government is determined to rid the people of loadshedding. He said that facilities and incentives were being extended to foreign investors in energy sector on priority basis while special measures had been taken for providing them security cover.
He was talking to Member Supreme Council of Qatar Sheikh Ali Bin Abdulla Althani who along with a delegation met him, here on Friday. Members of royal family of Qatar Sheikh Mubarik Saood Althani, Provincial Energy Minister Sher Ali Khan, Fiannce Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Chairman Planning & Development, Secretary Housing and other concerned officers were present. Matters of mutual interest and bilateral co-operation were discussed at the meeting.
Speaking on the occasion, Shahbaz Sharif said there were deep-rooted brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar and stressed the need for promoting trade relations between the two countries. He said bilateral ties between Qatar and Pakistan would be further promoted during the tenure of PML-N government.
He said Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park was being set up over 11,000 acre of land in Bahawalpur and the work for provision of infrastructure was being carried out expeditiously. The Chief Minister said Punjab government would set up a 1,000 megawatts energy project at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park. He said in the first phase, 100MW solar project was being started which would be completed at the beginning of next year and the production of electricity would be started.
He said projects were also being launched for production of energy from hydle, coal, biomass and biogas, adding that planning was being made for solar home solution for domestic consumers. He said the agreements had been signed with foreign companies for production of energy in Punjab.
Shahbaz Sharif said Punjab government had started Aashiyana housing project for providing shelter to low-income segment of the society and scope of that revolutionary project was being extended to various cities of the province. He said that federal government was also planning to initiate low-cost housing scheme for low-income people. The Chief Minister invited the high-level delegation of Qatar to invest in energy and housing sectors. The delegation expressed its interest in co-operation in those sectors.
Speaking on the occasion, Sheikh Ali Bin Abdulla Althani said Qatar would cooperate in investment in energy and housing sectors in Pakistan especially Punjab. He appreciated the tireless efforts and revolutionary efforts of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, and said he was serving the people of Punjab tirelessly which was highly praiseworthy.