ISLAMABAD, Sept 19: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani approved on Friday constitution of a committee to work out modalities for buying nuclear energy plants and satellite communication system.

The committee will include the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, secretaries of finance, foreign affairs and water and power and the director-general of the Strategic Planning Division.

The deicision was taken during a briefing on nuclear energy and satellite communication projects by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Tariq Majeed, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission and director-general of the Strategic Planning Division at the Prime Minister’s House.

The meeting discussed proposals for purchasing nuclear energy plants to meet growing energy needs from non-conventional resources. The prospects of initiating communication projects were also discussed.

According to sources, it was acknowledged at the meeting that the country was facing an acute shortage of power and the need to produce sufficient electricity within the shortest possible time to overcome the crisis.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Defence Ahmed Mukhtar, Minister for Finance Naveed Qamar, federal secretaries and other senior officials.