KARACHI, Oct 3: Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that besides electricity and gas, alternative energy resources would be developed in the province to fulfil the local energy needs.

Addressing a meeting, he said installation of small suction pumps can check water-logging in lower Sindh areas. He further said alternative energy schemes would be encouraged in the province, which would help create employment opportunities and resolve the problems of the province.

The meeting was informed that 800 million dollars foreign investment is projected for the alternative energy development sector, which would span over 10 years, and create about 17,000 new employment opportunities.

Chairman, Environment and Alternative Energy Development Board Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Hamid, told the meeting that the use of alternative energy resources is being encouraged across the world.

He informed that solar energy and wind-mills can generate up to 50 mw energy. Development of alternative energy resources would help in supply of irrigation water and electricity, thus alleviate poverty in rural areas, he said.

The chief minister said the alternative energy development scheme is better and would facilitate people of lower Sindh. He directed that a strategy should be formulated to implement the scheme.

In this regard, Sindh environment department would prepare a draft, under which regulatory powers would be with the power and irrigation department, while the power-plants having a capacity of less than 50 mw would be installed, and the chief minister would be the competent authority to approve the establishment of such power plants.

Advisor on Environment Noman Saigol, Chief Secretary Mohammad Aslam Sanjrani, Secretary of Irrigation Ashfaq Ahmed Memon, Secretary of Environment Shamsul Haq Memon, Managing Director of Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, Secretary Land Utilisation and Principal Secretary to Sindh Chief Minister Muhammad Ayub Shaikh, among others, attended the meeting. -APP