[Ferro-Alloys.com] Punjab Minister for Energy, Malik Sher Ali Khan has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-N leadership is resolutely determined to overcome the chronic menace of loadshedding and for this purpose in addition to increasing power generation, it has launched an aggressive campaign against massive electricity and gas thefts which is costing up to Rs 250 billion annually to the country.

He expressed these views while addressing the opening ceremony of the world reputed Chinese North West Electric Power Institute office in Pakistan at a local hotel, here Tuesday. The minister said that as a result of expeditious measures taken by the incumbent government the existing electricity generation had been enhanced by over 1700 MW. He said that newly-established Chinese design institute would open up new vistas of mutual co-operation between business entities of China and Pakistan in the energy sector.

Earlier, Zaho Wen Xue, President overseas project company of NWEPDI, in his welcome address, said that it was an established principle of the Chinese leadership to develop a sound relationship with Pakistan and push forward the ties among power generation firms of the two nations. Now the Chinese engineers would work hard, alongside Pakistani friends, to further strengthen existing bonds of co-operation in all fields of energy sector to achieve a better and easier life for the people of both the countries.

He said that NWEPDI has already taken part in a series of work in designing, procuring, constructing and testing projects of MG-I in Pakistan. The opening of the Institute's office, the Chinese electricity experts would be a part of strength of electricity grid in Pakistan, he added.

Later Li Xiu An, President of NWEPDI observed that ever since its inception in October 1956, the NWEPDI has attained the status of one of the top companies in China power sector and had designed 261 major power projects both at home and aboard. Vice President NWEPDI, Zheng Shu Gui, while giving a presentation on achievements of the Institute, remarked that setting up of the NWEPDI Pakistan office was a milestone for the international business which showed that Pakistan's energy market was very important to China.

Leading businessmen from government and private sectors including Zia-ur-Rehman MD/NTDCL, Arshad Chaudhary Chief Engineer, Zahid Khan GM NESPAK, Riaz Beg Vice President Barqaab, Dr Saleem Jilani CEO Jiltec Engineering also attended the inaugural ceremony.

• [Editor:editor]