MNA Hamza Shahbaz has said that Pakistan has potential to generate electricity amounting to 20,000 MW for over 50 years by using only 2 percent of the coal available in the country. Despite this ending wealth, Pakistani people and industry are facing the worst power crisis.
It is very unfortunate that the country has been facing unparalleled energy crisis despite the fact that the value of Pakistan's coal reserves is around $30 trillion, that is 187 times more than the GDP of Pakistan. "The worth of our coal reserves is higher than the combined oil reserves of Saudi Arabia and Iran," he said.
He was speaking as chief guest at the Qiraat Competition held in connection with Lahore Shopping Festival which was presided over by Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Shahzad Ali here on Monday. MNA Pervaiz Malik, LCCI Senior Vice President Mohammad Arshad and Vice President Sohail Azhar were also present on the occasion.
Habiba Yasmin, Zakria Khalid and Abdus Salam Azizi won the Lahore Shopping Festival (LSF) Qiraat Competition jointly organised by LCCI and Qudratullah and Company. Habiba Yasmin stood first among women, while Zakaria Khalid and Abdus Salam Azizi took top positions in non-professional and professional categories respecively. Shahnaz Akhtar, Tahira Bilquees, Hassan Raza, Mushtaq Ahmad Awan, Mohammad Riaz and Zubair Aslam took second and third positions respectively in all categories.
Ajwad Obaid of Jamia Ashrafia and Raghib Naeemi were judges of the competition. Hamza agreed with the LCCI proposal to establish a state-of-the-art vocational training institute in Lahore and promised to allocate land for the said institute so that the shortage of skilled manpower could be overcome. He said: "Today, the country is faced with multiple internal and external challenges and we all should fulfill our respective responsibilities to cope with these challenges."
He said: "If we are really sincere and serious about getting out of the present economic logjam, we will have to chalk out an elaborate action plan aimed at reducing dependence on external assistance and learn to rely on available resources, even sacrificing some of the comforts in the process to achieve our long term goal of progress and prosperity."
Shahzad said that the Lahore Shopping Festival has been designed to promote economic activities in the province. At the three-day first Expo Punjab as many as 175 prominent business groups are showcasing their products. On the sidelines of the exhibition an 'Investment conference' would also be held at Lahore Expo Centre Auditorium where leading economic experts would be highlighting the potential of Punjab.
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