‘Work underway to utilise alternative energy sources’
The committee was briefed on Karakoram Highway Thakot-Raikot section realignment project but no major progress was made. PHOTO: FILE
Punjab Minister for Energy Dr Muhammad Akhtar Malik has said work was underway on various projects in the province to utilise alternative energy sources in line with international standards.
He expressed these while chairing a meeting of the Punjab Power Development Board on Saturday. He said several projects have been launched to help in tackle the challenges of climate change as well as generate cheap electricity to meet local needs.
The minister further said the provincial government was committed to boosting the renewable energy sector for which it had increased the annual budget from Rs5 billion to Rs7 billion.
The meeting was also attended among others by Additional Secretary Companies Aslam Shahid, Additional Secretary Admin Tayyab Farid and heads of public sector companies of the department.
The meeting reviewed the performance of the boards of the companies. Expressing the concern on certain board members remaining absent from boards meetings, the provincial minister directed to replace their slots with more qualified experts.
He said the plan to generate electricity from waste was of immense importance so the work should be expedited speedily on it and the summary of Solid Waste to Energy Project should be moved latest by next week.
He also asked the heads of the companies to send details of the proceedings of the previous meetings and the targets achieved so far.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2022.