ISLAMABAD, Aug 8: Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday invited Poland to invest in the coal power generation and coal mining sector in Pakistan to benefit the country with the Polish expertise and technology.

He said this while talking to Ambassador of Poland in Pakistan Dr Krzyszt Debnicki, who called on him on Friday.

The ambassador discussed matters of mutual interests, especially cooperation in power and mining sectors to further strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

The minister informed the envoy about the current energy situation faced by Pakistan. He said that the new political government was fully determined to facilitate foreign investors and remove all hindrances and bottlenecks to promote investment in the power sector, which has great potential, attractive benefits and high returns for investors.

He said that Pakistan was facing great challenges, especially in power sector as the shortage of energy had adversely affected the country’s economy. He expressed the hope that his ministry would be benefited from expertise of the Polish businessmen, who have great experience and most modern technology in the mining sector.

Raja Ashraf said that there were big coal reserves in Pakistan and the government wanted to explore the indigenous resources for multi-purpose use. An independent energy board has also been established for the development of Thar coal mines and clean coal technologies.

The Polish ambassador informed the minister that his country had great experience in mining development and said that the Polish companies will be briefed on investment opportunities in Pakistan during the ambassadors’ conference to be held shortly in Poland.

He also discussed the investment possibilities in other sectors in Pakistan.