KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Saturday presided a high level meeting at the CM House here regarding `Energy Conference' being held at Lahore on April 9.
The meeting was attended among others by Sindh Minister for Power, Ms Shazia Marri, Sindh Finance Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, Chairman Sindh Board of Investment, Zubair Motiwala, Sindh Chief Secretary, Raja Muhammad Abbas, Additional Chief Secretary (P&D), Israr Malik, Sindh Secretary Power, Ms. Rabia Javeri Agha, Secretary Coal, Sohail Rajput, Secretary Board of Investment, Ms. Naheed Shah Durrani, Secretary Alternative Energy, Mir Hussain Ali, Secretary Finance, Naveed Kmaran Baloch, Secretary Agriculture, Aijaz Ali Khan and leading businessmen of Karachi Siraj Kassem Teli, Ziyad Bashir Ali Muhammad, Javed Bilwani, Saleem Parekh, Faisal Ahmed, Ashraf Makati, Shabbir Dewan, Tariq Rafi, and others.
Secretary Power Department Ms. Rabia Javeri Agha presented detailed briefing regarding energy conference and issues.
Various options regarding Thar coal, energy project and hydel projects were also discussed.
It was informed that total shortage of power is 7,000 MW, resulting in 10 to 16 hours load shedding, while due to increasing demand of gas, there is shortage of gas and the provincial industry and other factors totally depend on gas. It was also informed that Sindh province is producing over 70% gas in the country but in the larger national interest, the Sindh province does not insist on fulfillment of its needs and demands.
The Secretary Power also gave details of subsequent meetings held at Islamabad, which formed three groups on different subjects and those groups finalised recommendations to meet the challenges, while issues were discussed.
Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah was informed that the Sindh Government has cleared all financial liabilities of HESCO and except current billings, there is no liability in this regard, as all billing and financial disputes have successfully been reconciled.
The Sindh Chief Minister said that the provincial government has focused power generation through gas while it has emphasised on conservation of electricity with its effective use, as the demand of power has increased.
He said that until and unless there are new options, we will utilise the available options in a befitting manner.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah added that Sindh province is facing acute shortage and need of power with the result the process of investment has been affected.
He added that there is a big potential of coal in Thar area and with our collective efforts, we will generate 10,000 MW power by the year 2020, which will be enhanced later.
Syed Qaim Ali Shah emphasised that Thar coal project is a project of Pakistan, which was firstly identified by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and she had called it `black gold' of Pakistan.
He informed that the present government is working speedily on the project and we are expecting full support and cooperation of Federal Government in various schemes particularly installation of transmission line, railway line etc.
Sindh Chief Minister also stressed upon other provinces to extend cooperation and assistance for Thar coal project.
He added that there is potential of wind energy in Sindh province and we can generate 50,000 MW energy.
Later, Sindh Secretary for Power informed that the work on formulating a new power policy is in progress and the new Power Policy will be announced soon.
She said that under new power policy, two hydel power plants will be installed in the province, for which financial support will be arranged.
The business community placed their observations and demands, and presented a copy of letter to the Sindh Chief Minister which has been sent by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Prime Minister.
A leader of the business community, Siraj Kassem Teli, informed that the industry of Karachi is facing acute shortage of power, and said that they are also aware of problems of Punjab industry, but it is essential for Chief Minister Punjab to resolve issue under national thought and vision, instead of handling it on political ground.
Teli further said that Karachi plays a vital role in generation of revenue for the country, while if there is any loss to industry of Karachi, it will be the loss of whole country.
Business community appealed to the Sindh Chief Minister to talk to the Prime Minister, and the energy conference be convened on national level at Islamabad.
Chairman BOI, Sindh, informed that we are unable to implement and attract investment properly because, there is acute shortage of gas.
Sindh Chief Minister listened to the proposals, suggestions and views with due consideration and appreciated the efforts and sentiments of all stakeholders for providing solution to resolve the energy crises.
He said that Sindh Government will fully participate in Energy Conference being held on April 9.
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