KARACHI: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that the government will approve 10,400-MW projects under the Pak-China Economic Corridor by March to curb persisting power crisis in the country.
He said this while talking to media during his visit to the head office of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).
The minister has also declared 2017 as the year in which the nation will see huge changes on both fronts – terrorism and energy crisis.
The commerce minister’s visit to FPCCI was part of the events scheduled to take place on the inauguration of the Expo Pakistan 2015 – the biggest annual trade fair of the country. The event will be held at the Karachi Expo Centre from February 26 to March 1.
Dastgir said that the Expo Pakistan 2015 has given the government confidence to display a strong image of Pakistan through its exportable goods, he said, adding that it has also planned a single country exhibition this summer in the United Kingdom to get business orders for our industries.
Speaking on a specific question on slow tax reforms in the country, he said that Pakistan definitely needs innovative solutions to overcome its problem of low tax-to-GDP ratio.
Dastagir Khan said that Pakistan and India need to improve diplomatic relations if they want to capitalise on trade potential.
Meanwhile, he said the progress of liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal was satisfactory and the first shipment from Qatar is due next month. Around 3,600MW would be produced by PSDP-financed power plants using LNG, the minister said.
