Energy, infrastructure projects: Chinese Group wants to make investment
Source : Business Recorder Date : October 21, 2013
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The Chinese Gezhouba Group Corporation has expressed its desire for investment in Pakistan's infrastructure and energy sector's projects. Gezhouba Group has expertise in hydro power projects, infrastructure development and coal mining. A high level delegation of Gezhouba Group Corporation of China led by its Executive Director, Yang Yisheng, called on Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Sunday. The Chinese company expressed keen interest in hydro and coal-based power generation projects in Punjab.
Matters regarding promotion of cooperation in infrastructure, hydel and coal-based energy projects and low cost residential schemes were discussed in the meeting.
Provincial Minister for Energy Sher Ali Khan, Managing Director Metro Bus Authority, Secretary Planning and Development, Chairperson Ring Road Authority, Director General LDA, and other concerned officers were present.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that Pakistan was facing serious energy crisis which is not only affecting the common man but economic activities have also slowed down. The government was taking measures on emergent basis for controlling energy crisis, he added.
He said that planning had been made for generation of electricity from solar energy. 1000 megawatt electricity would be generated under a phased programme from Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park project in Bahawalpur.
He said the federal government was working on Bhasha and Dasu dams for production of electricity as well as availability of water for irrigation purposes. He invited the Chinese company to consider extending cooperation in construction of small dams and mining of coal reserves.
"Punjab has vast coal reserves and an Australian company has prepared a feasibility report for using them for energy purposes," he added.
He said that according to an estimate Punjab had coal reserves of 446 million tons which can be utilized for generation of electricity. He assured that all out security and facilities would be provided to foreign investors and companies in Punjab and China Gezhouba Group Corporation should also benefit from them.
Executive Director China Gezhouba Group Corporation, Yang Yisheng said that he was deeply impressed by the development vision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and his company wanted to play its role in the development of Pakistan.