LAHORE, Aug 6: New commercial plazas in Punjab will be bound to have solar lamps installed on their premises as the provincial government is ready to announce regulations in this respect.

This was stated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in a meeting with a Turkish energy delegation here on Tuesday.

“The government is taking solid measures for developing solar power sector and installation of solar lights is being made compulsory in new commercial plazas.”

In a bid to overcome the energy crisis, the Punjab government has already decided to convert streetlights in major towns to solar system.

Shahbaz said besides promoting traditional methods of power generation, work is being expedited on alternative energy resources and the roadmap evolved for this purpose would yield far-reaching results.

He said that Chinese, Turkish as well as several other foreign companies had expressed their keen interest in the power generation projects based on coal and solar energy. He welcomed the offer of Turkish group of companies -- EAE -- of shifting streetlights to solar energy and hoped that an agreement would soon be signed in this regard after which streetlights of Lahore as well as other big cities of Punjab would be switched over to solar power.

Chairman of EAE Samil Perk, while offering cooperation to the Punjab government in switching over streetlights to solar energy, expressed his desire for an agreement in this regard.

Energy Minister Sher Ali Khan, secretary, technical director, consultant and other officials of the Turkish group of companies were also present.

Meanwhile, the Punjab chief minister has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the killing of 13 people who were kidnapped from a passenger coach in Muchh area of Bolan district, Balochistan. The CM expressed heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

AMIR MUQAM: PML-N Senior Vice-President Engineer Amir Muqam called on Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Tuesday and discussed political situation and matters of mutual interest with him.

The chief minister said it augured well that after general elections, the process of presidential election was also completed. “Pakistan is facing a number of issues but all problems will be overcome with commitment, determination and collective efforts.”