ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday that increase in energy demand was a manifestation of enhanced economic activities in the country, adding that the government was taking steps to bridge the demand-supply gap of power.
Many foreign companies were interested in investing in Pakistan’s power sector due to the government’s investor-friendly policies, the prime minister said while talking to Minister for Water and Power, Naveed Qamar, who called on him at the PM House. Gilani asked the minister to devise methods to explore alternate energy sources to meet the future energy needs, advising him to consult respective organisations of the developed countries to benefit from their experiences.
The PM stressed for formulating policies to augment public-private partnership and improved investment in energy sector. He also asked the minister to take all stakeholders on board to finalise load management plan for this summer. Regarding the compensation money to be paid to the affected persons in Diamir-Bhasha area, he asked the minister to look into the matter and resolve the issue amicably in consultation with stakeholders from Chillas and Diamir. Naveed Qamar apprised Gilani about different projects initiated by the ministry and discussed with him the ongoing schemes in his constituency.
Separately, the prime minister on Friday called for the international community to impress upon India to respect the fundamental rights of Kashmiris, demanding that atrocities against innocent Kashmiris be stopped forthwith.
Talking to Ambassador Abdullah Abdurahman Alim, Organisation of Islamic Conference’s (OIC) Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, who called on him at the PM House, Gilani appreciated the OIC’s strong and consistent support to the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination. app
