The Punjab government is encouraging foreign companies, including Chinese, to cooperate and tackle the country's energy crisis and enhance industrial and economic bond by creating job opportunities in the power sector. The announcement by Provincial Ministers for Finance Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and for Mines and Mineral Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan came in their addresses to the Pak-China Energy Forum on Tuesday.
The ministers claimed that the country's gross domestic product would have increased by two percent had there never been an energy crisis. "But the Punjab government is taking concrete steps to overcome this menace by initiating mega projects in the power sector with the help of Chinese investors. Investment-based power projects will also increase jobs and the Punjab government is fully facilitating and encouraging foreign investment in this sector," they claimed.
"Pakistan has a great environmental potential for creation of energy and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor will realise this dream as it will prove a game-changer in the region with the role and efforts of the Chinese government to overcome this energy crisis and its huge investment comprising $36 billion for the power sector development programmes."
The vice chairman of the China Western Power Industrial Company then briefed the participants about his company's services in the power production sector, particularly in industrial specific solutions, by planning, management and financing. Those who also spoke were the university vice-chancellor, Lahore Chamber representative Shehzad Azam, and the chief minister's Advisor, Shahid Riaz Gondal. The forum also saw University of Engineering and Technology Fazal Ahmad Khan, Energy Secretary Asad Rehman Gillani, industrialists and investors.