Power sector: Prime minister apprised of features of new energy policy

Transparency must be maintained during implementation of the policy, says premier.

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif chairing a meeting to review the country’s new energy policy on Monday said that transparency will be maintained at all levels in the implementation of the new energy policy.

He said efficiency, transparency and provision of maximum relief to the common man should be the hallmark of new energy policy, which would be announced after completion of a consultative process with stakeholders, including all federating units.

The new policy should focus on reducing demand and supply as well as the cost of production, the Prime Minister said as he was apprised of the policy’s salient features.



The government’s energy team apprised the meeting that the “new energy policy would transform the red tape paradigm to a red carpet one and provide maximum facilitation to public as well as investors.”

The prime minister said that potential investors at both national and international levels must be contacted and apprised about prospects of better return in the energy sector. He stressed that maximum efficiency levels must be kept as the benchmark for the energy policy to get maximum results and expressed confidence that dedication, zero tolerance to corruption, better management and use of modern technology would yield better results.

Prime Minister Nawaz said the country would be back on the path of progress and development as part of the government’s initiatives.

The prime minister appreciated the Ministry of Water and Power for taking steps for the automation of the distribution system and said with minimisation of human involvement and digitalisation of electricity distribution, the element of corruption and theft would be efficiently checked.

The meeting was further informed that in line with the directives of the Prime Minister, efforts would be made to reduce cost of production to provide relief to larger segments of the society.      The meeting was apprised that energy mix and utilization of natural resources would be applied to achieve desired results.



Referring to the recent memorandum of understanding signed with Chinese company Norinco International, he hoped that such other international firms would follow the suit.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Petroleum Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Dr Musaddiq Malik, Shaukat Fayaz A Tarin, Zayad Bashir and other senior officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 25^th, 2013.

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