Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan is facing serious energy crisis which has caused an irreparable damage to its economy. He said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government will take all possible steps to cope with the challenge of energy shortage so that people’s problems can be resolved and economy is put on the right track.

He said that efforts will be made on war footing to control load-shedding and practical measures will be taken to seek cooperation of India for this purpose. He welcomed the interest shown by India to cooperate with Pakistan in energy sector. He said that India and Pakistan can move ahead by promoting trade and economic relations which will be beneficial to the peoples of the two countries.

The Chief Minister expressed these views while talking to a high level Indian delegation of power and gas sector which led by Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay called on him at Model Town, here today.

It was agreed in the meeting to promote cooperation in power and gas sectors between the two countries. Provincial Minister for Energy Sher Ali Khan, Chief Secretary Punjab, former caretaker Federal Minister for Water & Power Dr. Musadaq Malik, Secretary Finance, Advisor on Power Planning NTDC, concerned authorities, Joint Secretary Indian Ministry of Electricity Mrs. Rita Acharya, Joint Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas PK Singh, Member of Central Electricity Authority India Mr. Ravinder, Secretary Power and Energy of Indian Punjab Anirudh Tiwari, representatives of GAIL, V.N Datt, P.K Paul, R.K Mathur, Mukesh Khanna of Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, Y.K Sehgal and other experts were present on the occasion.

Talking to Indian delegation, Shahbaz Sharif said that Pakistan and India are neighboring countries and by acting upon the principle of peaceful co-existence they will have to move forward on the road to progress and prosperity. He said that cooperation in economic sector is the key to development of the two countries. He said that trade cooperation between Pakistan and India is essential for peace, progress and prosperity in the region.

He said that both the countries can benefit from each other’s experiences in trade, investment, industries, education, health and other sectors. He said that the goal of progress and development of India and Pakistan cannot be achieved without giving a chance to peace. He said that the economic, industrial, agriculture and other sectors have been badly affected by energy crises in Pakistan besides routine life has also been disturbed. Shahbaz Sharif said that PML-N government will take all necessary measures to overcome energy crisis and this challenge will be turned into opportunities.

The Chief Minister thanked Indian delegation for visiting Pakistan and said that is a matter of satisfaction that an Indian delegation of energy sector is in Lahore and soon a delegation of Pakistani experts in energy sector will visit India so that further progress could be made for promotion of cooperation between the two countries in energy sector. He said that the proposals put forward in the meeting will be presented by him to the Prime Minister. He said that India and Pakistan will have to take practicable measures for the promotion of bilateral trade. He said that a number of useful proposals have been put forth in the meeting and their implementation can help promote cooperation between Pakistan and India in energy sector.

The Indian delegation gave a briefing to the Chief Minister on details of the proposed project of laying a power transmission line from Amritsar to Lahore and a gas pipeline from Jalandhar to Jallo. Pakistani experts also submitted their proposals regarding the proposed project.

Indian Deputy High Commissioner Gopal Baglay said that there has been a peaceful transition of power in Pakistan in a democratic manner. He said that the Indian government has also expressed good wishes for the new government of Pakistan Muslim League-N in Pakistan. He expressed the hope that bilateral relations between India and Pakistan will improve under the new government of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He also thanked Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for his warm hospitality.