ISLAMABAD: Planning, Development and Reform Minister Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar and Minister for Energy (Power Division) Omar Ayub Khan jointly chaired a meeting on integrated energy planning on Tuesday.
Planning Secretary Zafar Hasan, China Pakistan Economic Corridor Project Director Hassan Daud and senior officials from the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Division attended the meeting.
Officials of the Ministry of Energy briefed the meeting regarding the progress on energy projects being executed under CPEC, while Planning Commission member Tahawar Hussain briefed on integrated energy planning.
Khusro Bakhtiar on the occasion said that the present government attached top priority with cheap renewable sources of energy, adding that the share of renewable energy in Pakistan’s energy mix would improve up to 20 per cent in the next 10 years.
Bakhtiar noted that Pakistan’s energy needs are growing with the economic growth and that it requires continuous power generation. “Pakistan would utilise its indigenous sources of Thar coal to meet the rising demands,” he added.
The minister said that besides generation, modern evacuation and distribution system would be developed to put in place a holistic approach in the energy sector. “This approach would not only help eradicate line losses but would also address issues pertaining to circular debt on a permanent basis,” he added.
The minister, while issuing directions on Gwadar power project, said this initiative was the backbone for development in Gwadar, adding that all matters with respect to energy projects would be finalised jointly with the provincial governments.
He asked the concerned department to take necessary steps for an early launch of construction work on the Kohala Hydro Project.
Bakhtiar further said that issue of payments for energy projects have been settled to a great extent, however, further measures would be ensured to resolve the matter amicably.
On the occasion, Energy (Power Division) Omar Ayub Khan said that the government promotes the development of renewable energy sources to achieve cheap and green energy.
He said through innovation in technologies, renewable part in energy mix could be enhanced even beyond 20 per cent.
During the meeting, officials of Planning Commission and Ministry of Energy were instructed to sit together and develop an integrated energy plan.
