February 23, 2007	Friday	Safar 5, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Feb 22: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said on Thursday the demand in power sector was growing by 9.5 per cent annually mainly due to high growth achieved by the country and the government is engaged in tapping all available sources to keep a balance between demand and supply.

He was talking to Vince Harrris, executive director Asia, International Power Ple, who called on him. Mr Harrris is visiting Pakistan to attend Euro Money conference.

The PM said that the surge in demand of power was mainly due to better living standards, growing middle class, electrification of rural areas and increase in irrigation and industrial demand; all of which necessitates more electricity generation.

Underlining the importance of energy security for high growth, sustaining progress and development, the prime minister said the government was trying to diversify the sources of energy and maximise output from hydro power and other alternate energy sources, including solar, wind, biogas and bio-diesel.

Under the energy security strategy, he said the government will exploit all available resources of commercially viable energy both domestically as well as from abroad.

In the oil and gas sector, he said the government was focusing both on enhancing the indigenous capacity as well as on importing gas from the neighbouring countries.

Mr. Aziz said that the private sector was contributing in the government's efforts to bridge the gap between demand and supply in the power sector.

He said that the government was encouraging investments by the private sector and a level-playing field has been provided to local and foreign investors.

Mr. Harrris said he was impressed by the rapid pace of growth in Pakistan.

He appreciated the investment friendly policies of the government and the enabling environment created by it to facilitate the investors. —APP