ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: The government will encourage private investors to make huge investments in power sector and will take all measures to facilitate them.

Federal Minister for Water and Power Liaquat Ali Jatoi stated this while chairing the 66th meeting of the Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB) here on Saturday.

The minister emphasised that all the related departments should process the proposals of power projects without any delay so that these could be completed well in time.

The board meeting also approved issuance of Letters of interest (LoIs) to two companies for carrying out feasibility studies for imported coal based power plants to be situated near Karachi.

The board was informed that projects of 2,063-mw cumulative capacity, based on new as well as used/refurbished equipment, were being processed on a fast track basis and were likely to be commissioned by the year 2008.

All these measures were being taken to comply with the directives of the president and the prime minister for exploring all avenues to address future power requirements of the country.

Mr Jatoi advised the board to expedite the processing of the three International Competitive Bidding (ICB) projects – 450-mw Uch-II power project, 400-mw Faisalabad power project and 350-mw Lahore power project.

He also directed that the competitive bidding process should be encouraged and the PPIB should resolve any pending matters and work towards issuance of Requests for Proposals at an early date.

Taking into consideration the aggressive targets given to the board for bringing in the much needed power for immediate, short-term and long term requirements of the country, the PPIB discussed measures necessary to build up capacity and implement suitable human resource policies.