ISLAMABAD, July 10: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Monday directed the Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) to invite expressions of interest for the import of coal plants through open advertisement.

The premier made the directions while talking to CEO and President of AES Lal Pir and AES Generation Thermal Power Companies Naveed Ismail who called on him at the PM House.

An official announcement said that Mr Aziz said the government was investing a lot in the energy sector and was fast-tracking procedures in order to meet the short- and medium-term energy needs of the country.

He said that the government was providing attractive facilities to both local and foreign investors in order to increase employment opportunities and allowing the private sector to play its role in the economic development.

The prime minister said the energy requirements of the country were increasing and the government was exploring all available sources of energy including thermal, nuclear, hydel, and alternative energy to meet its growing energy needs.

He said the government was fully cognisant of the vital role played by the various sources of energy in the development and growth of a country and was doing necessary planning to ensure energy security in the years and decades to come.

He said the government was encouraging thermal power plants, which run on furnace oil, coal, natural gas and LNG. He welcomed both the imported and local coal-based power generation projects because they were cost-effective and enhance energy security.