LONDON: Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday urged the British power companies to invest in country’s energy sector and help Pakistan meet its energy shortfall. Talking to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Edward Davey, who called on him here at his hotel, Gilani said Pakistan has rich potential for solar and wind energy and was ready to give incentives to investors, interested in these areas.

Prime Minister Gilani apprised him of the severe energy shortfall in the country that was having a negative impact on country’s industrial growth and said a number of urgent measures were being taken to improve the situation.

He appreciated the interest shown by the British investors.He said Pakistan was working on long-term projects to acquire natural gas for power generation, industrial and domestic needs, including the Liquified Natural Gas.

The British Energy Secretary also noted the huge potential of Pakistan in the area of solar energy. He said the initial cost of solar generation was high, but it paid off in the end. Gilani said Pakistan has held talks with Korea and China in this regard, who were keen to invest in this sector and invited the British companies to exploit the potential.

Edward Davey said Pakistan can also benefit from the successful use of power generation from waste. Prime Minister Gilani said Pakistan was already doing so in Punjab with the help of the Turkish government, however said that Britain can help Pakistan in this area in Karachi, that produces huge amount of solid waste.

Prime Minister Gilani on a point raised by the High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hassan said Pakistan government would further ease the problems of investors keen to invest in the country.

Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister for Climate Change Rana Muhammad Farooq Saeed and MNA Asma Arbab Alamgir were present during the meeting. (APP)