LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Mines Chaudhry Sher Ali Khan has said that the government is utilising maximum resources to promote alternate energy resources in the country.
He was speaking at a national experts conference on “Coal and Alternative Energy Resources” here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
LCCI President Ijaz A Mumtaz, Vice President Syed Mahmood Ghaznavi, LCCI Standing Committee on Coal and Alternate Fuels Convener Fazal Ahmad, UET Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Fazal Ahmad Khalid, DG Khan Cement Technical and Operations Director Dr Muhammad Kashif and GCU lecturer Fatima Akram also spoke on the occasion.
Chaudhry Sher Ali said that a 100MW solar power project was already operational in Punjab, while a number of coal-fired power projects of 300MW in Pind Dadan Khan and 1,320MW project in Sahiwal were in the pipeline that would help overcome energy challenges.
He said that the Punjab government is restructuring the mining sector, as lack of modern technology is coming in the way of fully exploitation of coal mining. He urged the private sector to come forward and invest in the mining sector that would be a great service to the country.
He said that to equip mineral sector with up-to-date technology is one of the top priorities of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. He said that modern technology would help utilise domestic coal reserves.
LCCI President Ijaz A. Mumtaz said that Pakistan is currently facing energy crisis. “The impact of this crisis is seriously hampering our economic growth. It is high time that all the possible solutions are explored and most viable options are put into operation.”
He said that some three decades ago, Pakistan used to generate electricity from hydel and non-hydel resources with a proportion of 70:30. “Now the situation has totally reversed. It means that we have to rely too much on gas, oil and other sources to generate electricity. It has resulted in expensive electricity, which has wiped out our competitive edge in the international market.”
