IPPs: Govt to initiate debt swap soon: Qamar

Government intends to initiate a debt swap with IPPs soon to facilitate them in operations

KARACHI: The government intends to initiate a debt swap with independent power producers (IPPs) soon to facilitate them in operations, according to the Federal Minister for Water & Power, Syed Naveed Qamar. The minister hopes that the move will also encourage efficiency in the IPPs and encourage private investors. China, Russia, South Korea, France and Japan have shown an interest in Pakistan’s energy sector, he said. Qamar was speaking at a dinner hosted by the Pakistan Japan Business Forum Chairman Abdul Kader Jaffer on Sunday night. Kader Jaffer, in his remarks, urged the government to give priority to end load shedding and to ensure supply of energy to trade, industry and domestic consumers to achieve sustained economic growth.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2012.