LAHORE, Nov 24: The Punjab government will consider launching of solar energy projects with the assistance of Turkey to meet energy requirements in the province.
This was stated by Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi while talking to Turkish Ambassador Kemal Gur who called on him here on Wednesday.
The chief minister said tapping alternative sources of energy was the need of the hour to meet domestic, agriculture and industrial needs. The government would consider to arrange for bank credit for the completion of the solar energy projects, he said.
He said the government was implementing a comprehensive plan to increase production of electricity and other sources of energy. The chief minister said stability of the agri-economy was directly linked to the overall economic conditions of a country and that was why the promotion of agriculture was being accorded due importance in the official economic planning.
He said the government was paying special attention to the optimum use of water resources to fulfil the needs in the country. The chief minister said the industrial sector was being strengthened in the province through public-private partnership.
The recently established Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company was reviving the existing industrial estates and also establishing new ones. Mr Kemal Gur said Pakistan and Turkey were tied with each other with the bonds of common religion, history and culture.
He said his country would cooperate with the provincial government in the completion of the solar energy projects. Turkish Honorary Consul General Mian Tajammal Hussain said chambers of commerce and industry in Pakistan would be involved in increasing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Ophthalmology institute: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is expected to inaugurate the newly-constructed building of the Punjab Institute of Preventive Ophthalmology (PIPO) and launch the 'Vision 2020 Punjab' at King Edward Medical College on Nov 27.
Federal Health Minister Naseer Khan, Punjab Health Minister Dr Tahir Ali Javed and Australian High Commissioner Ms Zorica McCarthy will be the guests of honour. PIPO project report will be presented by Prof Dr Asad Aslam Khan.
The PIPO building has been constructed by the Punjab government in collaboration with NGOs from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, World Health Organization and philanthropists in a record time of eight months. Prof Khan says the institute will help abolish the incidence of blindness not only in Punjab but all over Pakistan.