Musharraf Directs Swift Setting-up of Small Power Units        
By Aziz Malik ‘Pakistan Times’ Federal Bureau Chief

RAWALPINDI: President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday directed the Ministry of Water and Power to complete small power generation plants to help meet the demand of expanding industrial and agricultural sectors on fast track basis.

Chairing a meeting on status of short term energy projects, the President stressed the need for facilitating the private sector, including both local and foreign entrepreneurs, in setting up small power plants in the short term.

The President underlined that these new units should be completed within the stipulated period for continued supply of energy to the industrial units.

President Musharraf said the industrial and engineering sectors were rapidly expanding resulting in steep increase in the demand for electricity.

He said energy would also be imported from the regional countries and alternative sources including coal, Residual Fuel Oil, wind mills would be utilized to ensure supply of energy on sustainable basis for the country’s economic development.

The President was informed that several foreign companies plan to set up power plants to generate around 1100 MW of additional electricity by the end of this year.

The meeting was further informed that the projects would help meet the country’s rising energy demands due to booming industrial sector and will help reduce load shedding for the domestic consumers. Import of electricity from Iran would be increased to around 600 MW to meet the requirements in the bordering areas.

Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi later told reporters that the rise in demand for electricity was due to influx of foreign investment in various sectors and new units for fertilizers and cement that were being set up in the private sector.

He said for the first time, private investors have been invited to invest in hydel energy projects. He said the robust industrial growth is the result of President Musharraf’s vision for industrial development in Pakistan.●