Directions in this regard were given in a meeting of the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) to review progress on private power projects and their future portfolios. The prime minister instructed that a committee – consisting of the Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, and secretaries of the finance ministry, Economic Affairs Division, and the Ministry of Water and Power – be set up to facilitate the simplification of investment procedures.
The prime minister said that Independent Power Producers (IPPs) had always played a pivotal role in the development of the power sector. “This is evident from the fact that there are 28 IPPs presently providing reliable power in the country,” the prime minister maintained.
PM Gilani said that Pakistan’s power sector is facing a wide electricity demand-supply gap, which has necessitated enhancement of generation capacity as well as related infrastructure. He further said that in order to meet future power requirements in the country, huge investments are required.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 31st, 2012.
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Too late Mr.!!! You may have been sleeping during five year tenor?? you have led the country to its worst ever. Leave us alone now!!! BTW get ready for the consequences!!
The current government will be long gone by the time such committees will produce anything. No one will be in his right frame of mind to invest in Pakistan's power sector considering the red tape, corruption and inconsistencies in government policies. A typical coal fired or thermal power generation plant of 1000 Mega Watt (enought to powering 5000 households or it can power 100 large industrial units such as Chemical plants, refineries etc.) will cost US$1 billion i.e., US$1 million per Mega Watt. Now who can be such a stupid investor to throw his /her money in a country which has complete lawlessness, adhoc power policies, massive corruption at all levels, bad credit history of the government, non-payment of dues to power sector, and no national fuel supply guarantees? perhaps someone from Mr Gilani's rich family or one of Mr Zardari's portfolio managers can be the investor. Many of the country's important infrastructure including energy supplies, transportation (PIA, Railways) and security are in grave danger of getting into a state of beyond repair.