Water and Power Minister Syed Naveed Qamar.—File photo

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Water and Power, Syed Naveed Qamar has said that the government is making all out efforts to generate cheaper electricity by developing indigenous energy resources, especially renewable in the country.

He said this while presiding over 23rd Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) meeting held here on Monday, said a press release.

He said that renewable energy would not only help shorten the demand and supply gap but also help in having a sustainable energy resource base in the country.

He said that the federal government would continue to help provinces in development of renewable energy resources related to their areas.

The minister directed AEDB to take up the resource assessment surveys in light of the prime minister's recent directives all over Pakistan, especially in the far flung areas of the country, where off-grid energy supply system could be established.

This would provide immediate help meet the energy needs of the rural population while also saving expenditure incurred on transmission lines, he added.

The Board approved a project for wind energy assessment in Balochistan.

The Minister said the fast track wind power projects in Sindh would be fully facilitated for their timely completion.

He expressed satisfaction on the allotment of land to some wind power projects and said that the Sindh government would facilitate other fast track wind power projects to get the land at the earliest.

He said that due to new policy investors are lining up, and has requested for allotment of land for wind power projects.

The minister directed AEDB to prepare plans for electrification in the off gird areas through solar and biomass and present the plans in the next board meeting.

The board accepted a suggestion of the Punjab government to develop a national plan for inducting solar energy in the country and the board entrusted AEDB to formulate the plan and submit in the next meeting.

The board also approved implementation documents relating to wind power projects being established in Sharo Keti Bandar wind Corridor, Thatta, Sindh.

Opinion

Editorial

Punishing evaders
02 May, 2024

Punishing evaders

THE FBR’s decision to block mobile phone connections of more than half a million individuals who did not file...
Engaging Riyadh
Updated 02 May, 2024

Engaging Riyadh

It must be stressed that to pull in maximum foreign investment, a climate of domestic political stability is crucial.
Freedom to question
02 May, 2024

Freedom to question

WITH frequently suspended freedoms, increasing violence and few to speak out for the oppressed, it is unlikely that...
Wheat protests
Updated 01 May, 2024

Wheat protests

The government should withdraw from the wheat trade gradually, replacing the existing market support mechanism with an effective new one over the next several years.
Polio drive
01 May, 2024

Polio drive

THE year’s fourth polio drive has kicked off across Pakistan, with the aim to immunise more than 24m children ...
Workers’ struggle
Updated 01 May, 2024

Workers’ struggle

Yet the struggle to secure a living wage — and decent working conditions — for the toiling masses must continue.