March 17, 2007	Saturday	Safar 27, 1428

ISLAMABAD, March 16: Ambassador of Ukraine Dr Igor Polikha has emphasised the need to boost cooperation in diversified economic areas including the hydrocarbon and minerals between the two countries.

The Ukrainian envoy called on Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon here on Friday and discussed with him matters of mutual interest and bilateral cooperation.

He informed that Ukraine had vast expertise in coal-based power plants and coal gasification and both countries could share each other’s experience in this field.

They agreed in the meeting that there existed a lot of potential for cooperation in oil, gas and mineral sector for the advantage.

Mr Jadoon said that Pakistan had deposit of 175 billion tons of coal in Thar (Sindh) and sought Ukrainian cooperation for setting up gasification and coal-based power plants.

He said that the government would welcome the visit of Ukrainian experts delegation to Pakistan aimed at to have technical meetings with their counterparts.

The minister said that government was according high priority to promote the energy sector on modern lines. He said that exploiting of indigenous resources of oil, gas and coal would not only help to cut down the increasing oil import bill but also meet the growing energy needs of the country.

Secretary Petroleum Ahmad Waqar and other senior officials of the ministry were present during the meeting.