Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Professor Ahsan Iqbal met with Managing Director of the World Bank, Ms.Sri Mulyani and discussed economic development cooperation.
The Minister apprised Ms. Mulyani of the government’s short, medium and long-term plans to address energy crises. In the short-term, he said, Pakistan is looking for quick fix solutions that include better distribution mechanism, better load management and looking for alternate sources of energy like, solar and wind.
Regarding medium-term plans, he said, the government is working oncoal-based projects from cleanest technology. Jamshoro Thermal Power plant will enhance energy supply with increased energy mix diversification from expensive imported heavy fuel oil (HFO) to less expensive high quality coal and GadaniPower Park on completion will house 10 imported coal-based power plants, he said according to the Pakistani embassy.
Over the long-term, he said, government is looking for hydro projects likes of Dasu and Bhasha dams.
Prof. Iqbal discussed World Bank’s programme portfolio in Pakistan. He discussed financial closure of Dasu Hydropower project and stressed upon the initiation of the project before June 2014. Furthermore, he emphasized upon financial closure of CASA 1000 project. The Minister stated that timelycompletion of CASA 1000 project was important to promoting regional integration.
The Minister also discussed the utilization of funds available under IDA 16 Cycle.
The MD World Bank highlighted the guidelines set by the World Bank for selection of projects under IDA 17 cycle, which will start from July 2014.
She asked the Minister to firm up projects according to these guidelines so as to avail maximum funding under this head. The MD World Bank appreciated the government of Pakistan’s decision to give a go-ahead to CASA 1000 and Dasu hydropower projects.
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