Talking on a private TV channel, he said the committee established by the Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on energy issues is a positive step.

Keeping in view this venture he stressed upon the need of handling the issue of energy at both private and govt platforms as it could not be handled by govt alone.

He said there are many recommendations relating to this issue by the private sector which needs to be implemented after careful consideration.

He said "our economic requirements are increasing day by day due to alarming population and our economic activities also being doubled accordingly".

Dr Ashfaq said by the 2011, Fifty per cent energy requirements will be fulfilled through gas resources as it's produced locally.

He said initially gas was not used in the process of energy production and this work was being done through the water resources but oil price hike compelled the users to divert attention towards gas for obtaing results.

Replying a question he said all the political parties should concentrate towards resolving all the energy issues jointly.

"Energy consumption issue is very time consuming as it can takes 8 to 10 years maximum and 4 years minimum to produce energy through water and Pan Bijli".

He advised the newly established committee for energy consumption to highlight the problem areas in energy sector and explore the ways to utilize 12,500 megawatt energy by the year 2015.