Saturday, May 17, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429    

Steps being taken to overcome energy crisis: Raja Riaz

Hussain Kashif

Lahore—Senior Minister Punjab Raja Riaz has said that the government is taking all necessary steps to overcome the ongoing energy crisis as it is well aware of the sufferings of the masses and the difficulties being faced by the industry. He said that a crash energy conservation plan had already been rolled-out by the federal government to bridge demand-supply gap.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of two-day LCCI SME Fair-2008 late Thursday night here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry. LCCI President Mohammad Ali Mian, Vice President Shafqat Saeed Piracha and Chairman LCCI Standing Committee on SMEs Rehmatullah Javed also spoke on the occasion. The Minister criticised the previous government for the energy shortage saying that in 1994 a plan was chalked out to produce 600 MW electricity by building small power projects on canals but the plan could not get go ahead due to unknown reasons.
Speaking on Small and Medium Enterprises, the Senior Minster paid rich tributes to the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry for supplementing the government efforts in bringing in economic turnaround. He said that the LCCI SME Fair and the seminar would help further consolidate businesses in Pakistan. In his address, the LCCI president Mohammad Ali Mian urged the Senior Minister to evolve all the future business policies after having due consultation with the stakeholders as in the past this practice was hardly seen anywhere.
On energy crisis, he urged the Minister to tap alternate energy resources because it would help curtail government’s import bill which is going up with every passing day due to high oil prices in the international market. The LCCI President said that the Federal government should immediately start construction of big water reservoir including Kalabagh Dam.
Mohammad Ali Mian said that infrastructure plays an important role in the industrial growth of any country and there is a need that the government should expedite up-gradation of infrastructure that would not only encourage local investors but also help attract foreign investment.
The LCCI President also suggested to the Senior Minister to widen the scope of Businessmen-Police Liaison committee by including all the industrial areas in it as improved law and order situation is a prerequisite to investment.