MULTAN: Federal Minister for Industries and Production Ghulam Murtaza Khan Jatoi has claimed that the prevailing energy crisis in the country would be overcome by 2018 due to the government’s commitment to resolve all power and gas issues.
Talking to the media at airport and after laying foundation stone of a new block at NFC Institute here, he said that the previous governments did not make any effort to address the energy issue as a result of which the country is faced with a severe power crisis. He added that only 60 kilometres of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is to be constructed. “Once this patch is laid and we’re connected to Turkmenistan gas line, the issue of gas will end,” he expressed his optimism.
Referring to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said it would help develop 100-acre export processing zone in Gwadar which would benefit Karachi as well.
The minister was of the opinion that country’s exports could be boosted by promoting small and medium enterprises. He stressed the need for producing more engineers, scientists, doctors and experts in different fields to put the country on path of progress and bring it on par with developed world. He said that the government is committed to eliminating poverty and unemployment from the country and small and medium enterprises were the best mean to achieve this goal.
Jatoi said that Turkey has also assured transfer of knowledge, experience and technology to strengthen the small and Medium Enterprises, adding that all these projects would be executed through SMEDA. The Federal Minister emphasized the need for bilateral cooperation and trade. Pakistan and Turkey have huge potential of bilateral trade, he said.
