(The NEWS, Islamabad) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that there are massive coal reserves in Punjab and the provincial government is working on various projects to generate energy from coal.

He was talking to a delegation, headed by of Mr Zhaojian, of Sino Coal International Engineering Group,China which called on him here on Sunday.

Shahbaz Sharif said there was a wide scope of cooperation betweenChina and Punjab for generation of energy from coal and Chinese investors could benefit from the opportunity.

He saidPakistan had large reserves of high grade coal and, due to severe energy crisis, work was being carried out expeditiously on various projects of alternate sources of energy generation. He said that the Punjab government was implementing Taunsa Barrage Hydel Power Project which would result in generation of 120 megawatt electricity.

He said thatChina had extended invaluable cooperation for the socio-economic development of Pakistan and its investment in various projects was highly encouraging. He said that Pakistan was facing serious energy crisis which was adversely affecting agriculture, industrial and other sectors.

He said that negotiations were being held with different countries for energy generation, but the Punjab government wantedChina to come forward for investment in these projects.

He said that thePunjab government wanted to set up plants for generation of energy from coal in Dera Ghazi Khan and Chakwal and the Chinese company, which had the required expertise in the sector, should benefit from the investment opportunities in the projects. He said that coal for DG Khan plant would be acquired from Balochistan and negotiations had been held with the Balochistan government in this regard, adding there were also sufficient coal reserves in Chakwal for the purpose.

He said that energy crisis was seriously affecting industrial sector inPunjab, therefore, efforts were being made on war footing for the generation of energy from coal.

He said that Chinese company Sino Coal International Engineering Group had expertise in the sector, therefore, it should consider the investment in the projects without delay.

Referring to his recent visit toChina, the chief minister said that a number of agreements were signed on this occasion for bilateral cooperation in agriculture, irrigation, energy, infrastructure, solid waste and other sectors which were being given a practical shape.

The head of the Chinese delegation, Mr Zhaojian, said thatPunjab was facing serious energy deficit and in accordance with the desire of the CM, projects of generation of energy from coal would be initiated expeditiously and a feasibility report prepared within two months after considering all options. He said that his company had wide experience in this sector and the delegation would visit various cities for the generation of energy. Secretary Mines Saifullah Chattha, Secretary Industries Rao Manzar Hayat, Deputy Chairman Investment Board Pir Saad Ehsanuddin, Chief Executive Officer Pak-China Bureau Zafar Mehmood Chaudhry and the officers concerned were also present.