ISLAMABAD, Jan 13: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Friday directed the Ministry of Water and Power, OGDCL and Nepra to coordinate and early implement the recently approved strategy by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).

Presiding over a meeting to review the steps for increasing power generation capacity of the country, the prime minister said that under the three-pronged approach approved by the ECC, the existing Independent Power Producers (IPPs) would be invited to propose maximum expansion of existing capacities for the power generation on competitive prices.

They would also be asked to submit plans for green field projects based on tariffs to be determined by Nepra, and projects, for which feasibility studies had been undertaken, would be offered for international bidding.

The prime minister said the new strategy of the government would provide facility to investors and expedite power generation programme being implemented under the “Roshan Pakistan”.

“The government is committed to provide electricity to all villages by December 2007. The new strategy will contribute to the achievement of this commitment,” the premier said.

He said the government was focusing on promoting gas-fired electricity based on isolated and non-pipeline quality gas as it was less costly, environment friendly and would reduce the quantum of furnace oil import.

The water and power secretary, managing directors of the PPIB and OGDCL, and other senior officials attended the meeting.