Govt to focus on renewable energy projects: Ejaz Ch

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ejaz Chaudhry on Monday said that Prime Minister Imran Khan was giving preference to hydel and renewable energy projects for resolving energy related problems in Pakistan.

Addressing National Conference on Energy Crisis and its Solutions at Punjab University Law College auditorium here, he said the government was working on producing energy through solar, wind, wave, hydel and other projects. The conference was held by College of Earth and Environmental Sciences (CEES) in collaboration with Pakistan Association for Advancement of Sciences (PAAS).

PU Vice Chancellor Prof Niaz Ahmad, University of Jhang Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Shahid Munir, Rifah University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Arshad, CEES Principal Prof Dr Sajid Rashid, PAAS General Secretary Dr Saleem Chaudhry, scientists and engineers from various parts of the country, faculty members and a large number of students participated in the conference.

Ejaz Chaudhry said due to the efforts of the Chief Justice of Pakistan and the prime minister, Bhasha Dam would be constructed and funding issue would also be resolved. He said, "There is abundance of natural resources in Pakistan and we can construct a large number of small and big dams to utilize water resources."

The PTI leader said, "Pakistan will face water crisis in the next 10 to 15 years and we need to prepare ourselves to avoid this crisis," adding that communication and distribution systems were obsolete and the government would curb line losses and electricity theft incidents during its five-year tenure.

He urged the young scientists, engineers and students to contact any official concerned if they faced any problem in their energy projects that could contribute to resolving energy issues.

He appreciated PU Institute of Policy Studies set up by the vice chancellor and said that PU had the potential to provide guidelines in all sectors.

Addressing the ceremony, Prof Niaz Ahmad said that Pakistan had abundance of natural resources and it could cope with energy issues, adding, it was a big challenge to produce low-cost and environment friendly energy.

He said, "We must have the technology which could reduce environmental problems during the process of energy production. We must give preference to solar and hydel energy projects and focus on effective utilization of coal reservoirs."

Dr Niaz announced establishment of Renewable Energy Centre at PU and said that funding would be provided to this project.