LAHORE, Aug 22: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said the target of production of 1,000 megawatt electricity will be achieved in Punjab in a year, says a handout.

At a meeting with a delegation of the Asian Bank Development (ADB), he said on Thursday his government since coming into power had attached top priority to generation of electricity and was moving ahead with proper planning and collective efforts.

He said energy crisis was a challenge for the stability of industry and economy and steps were being taken on an emergent basis to cope with the problem.

He welcomed the offer of the ADB of cooperation in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors. He said the ADB could extend technical assistance in generation of electricity at Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park and laying transmission line.

The ADB delegation included Director Regional Cooperation Vicky Tan, Advisor to Vice President Hao Zhang, Country Director Werner Lipach, Deputy Country Director Nian Shan Zhang and other office-bearers.

The meeting discussed promotion of cooperation between the Punjab government and the ADB in the energy, transport and infrastructure sectors while the ADB offered all out cooperation and financial assistance to Punjab government in all three sectors.

He said that negotiations were being held with China and Germany for generation of solar energy. He said that a programme had been evolved for conversion of streetlights and traffic signals in Lahore and other big cities of Punjab to solar energy while government offices are also being switched over to solar power under a phased programme.

He said projects in Punjab were being implemented in a transparent manner and this fact has also been acknowledged by even the opponents of the government. He said that completion of metro bus project in a short period of 11 months and at a cost of less than Rs30 billion was a splendid achievement of the Punjab government and more than 125,000 people were benefiting from this public transport system daily.