Provinces allowed to build power houses: Gilani

Prime minister says govt increased power generation by 1000MWs annually since it came into power.

KHUSHHAL GARH: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday that the government was undertaking long and short term measures to address its energy needs and has permitted the provinces to build their own power houses to meet the shortfall.

Addressing a large public gathering after laying the ground breaking ceremony of over Rs1.5 billion project of Khushhal Garh Bridge to connect Punjab with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) over River Indus, Gilani appreciated the announcement of a hydel power project by the provincial government.

The prime minister acknowledged the shortage of power in the country and said that effective measures were being taken to address the issue.

He said the federation asked the provinces to set up power generating units on their own and expressed the hope that it would help to overcome the growing power demand, besides creating employment.

He added that the government increased power generation by 1000MWs annually, since it came into power and hoped increased capacity would benefit the national industry.

Gilani pointed out that eight percent of country's gas and petroleum needs were being met from this area and hoped the new bridge would help increase transportation of petroleum products, and goods and services.

The PM said that the construction of the bridge at Kund was a longstanding demand of the people and it would lessen distance by 80 kms to the southern districts of K-P and Fata from Punjab, and provide alternative routes.

He said in the remaining last two years of government's tenure, new mega projects would be launched with the cooperation of the provinces and the federation to generate employment and speed up the pace of development.

He also announced provision of natural gas at Tall, to meet the long standing demand of the people.