LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that the PML-N government is using traditional as well as alternate sources to overcome the energy crisis. He said that energy crisis can be reduced by setting up power plants based on coal and biomass for which a strategy is being evolved. He assured that the Punjab government would provide all possible facilities to the industrial sector for promoting exports and talks would be held with the federal government for resolving problems of the garment exporters.
He expressed these views while visiting garments factory Nishat Apparel, Nishat Biomass and power plant running with coal and other factories of Nishat Group at Rohi Nala on Ferozpur Road on Wednesday. Chairman Nishat Group Mian Muhammad Mansha gave a briefing to the Chief Minister about garments factory and exports. Provincial Minister for Industry Ch. Muhammad Shafique, Provincial Minister Population Welfare Zakia Shahnawaz, Secretaries of Industry, Labour, and Women Development Departments and other concerned officials were also present on the occasion. Shahbaz Sharif visited various factories for more than two and a half hours.
Talking on the occasion of visiting industrial units of Nishat Group, the CM said that PML-N government was fully aware of the difficulties of the industrial sector and the common man due to loadshedding. Shahbaz Sharif was of the view of that energy crisis could not be overcome only through traditional methods but attention would also have to be paid to the alternate sources. He said that vast reserves of coal exist in the country. He said that PML-N government will launch electricity projects by utilizing these sources. The Chief Minister said that government is considering launching of short-term, mid-term and long-term projects with the cooperation of private sector and through implementation of these projects, not only loadshedding would be reduced but new job opportunities would also be created.
During the briefing, Shahbaz Sharif was told that electricity could also be generated through waste of chickens and this is a cheap fuel. He was also given briefing about power plants running through biomass and coal by various countries.
Appreciating the role of industrial sector, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said textile sector plays most important role in exports of the country. He said that there is great potential of exports of Pakistani garments in Europe and America. He said that huge foreign exchange can be earned by enhancing exports of Pakistani garments. The Chief Minister said that the industrialists should submit such practicable proposals through which exports could be enhanced and country’s economy strengthened.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister directed to consider the setting up of treatment plant for the disposal of industrial waste and construction of Rohi Nala Road.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that agriculture is the backbone of our economy. He said that Punjab government is taking concrete measures for promotion of agriculture and farmers’ problems would be resolved on priority basis. The Chief Minister said that provincial ministers and the authorities concerned should sit together and resolve problems of the farmers including electricity bills, tariff, and others. Shahbaz Sharif said that he himself would talk to federal government for resolving the problems of farmers.
He was talking to the delegation of farmers led by Pakistan Kisan Ittehad President Khalid Mehmood Khokhar at Model Town Wednesday.
The delegation informed the CM about electricity bills, tariff and other problems being faced by small farmers upon which, Shahbaz Sharif assured that sincere efforts would be made for resolving all of their problems. As a measure to provide electricity at the rural level, he said, the government was considering setting up of 15-20MW plants of biogas and biomass under public private partnership. Biomass and other projects of electricity generation would be completed speedily, he assured. The Chief Minister directed concerned authorities that a practicable plan of collecting raw material throughout the province for generating electricity through biomass should be evolved. On a complaint of the delegation, Shahbaz Sharif warned that the business of spurious agri-medicines and fertilizers would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against the elements as per law. He said that the cotton production can be enhanced by utilizing modern agriculture technology. The Chief Minister directed that provincial ministers of agriculture, irrigation and energy and concerned authorities should sit together and formulate proposals for implementing the projects of generating energy through biogas and biomass and operating tube well on solar energy. He said that the best technology with regard to biogas, biomass and solar energy is available with Germany and China and they should be contacted for this purpose. Similarly, this technology is being implemented successfully in Indian province Hariyana and it can also be contacted. Shahbaz Sharif said that we have to march forward speedily for launching energy projects without wasting time. He directed that the payments of sugarcane prices by the sugar mills to the farmers should be ensured.