RAWALPINDI, June 22: President Gen Pervez Musharraf said on Thursday Pakistan would encourage investment in utilisation of alternative sources of energy.

He said use of cost-effective energy would fuel country’s economic growth and reduce its dependence on expensive thermal power.

Speaking during a presentation on alternative energy sources, the president directed early implementation of projects to make use of wind and solar energy.

“We must make the best use of untapped energy potential in the form of wind and solar energy to meet the growing requirements in the long-term. This has become all the more important in the face of soaring oil prices,” he said.

He noted that in the recent years, Pakistan had been able to reduce its reliance on imported oil but added: “Mounting energy requirements on the back of robust industrial growth demand that the country exploit its hydropower capacity as well as benefit from abundant alternative energy means.”—APP