LAHORE: Prime Minis­ter Shehbaz Sharif has reviewed the process to formulate a policy regarding the use of alternative energy sources, especially solar energy.

Chairing a meeting on Saturday, he said the government had ensured the implementation of measures regarding alternative sources of energy, including solar energy, in the budget.

He said the process of converting public buildings to solar power should be expedited. This would not only reduce the electricity cost but save precious foreign exchange, he said, adding that the policy on solar energy should be finalised as soon as possible.

The prime minister also noted that Pakistan had immense capacity to produce solar energy.

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The meeting was briefed about the progress on countrywide solarisation projects and on the policy of alternative sources of energy.

Federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Syed Naveed Qamar, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Adviser to PM Ahad Cheema, Special Assistant Jehanzeb Khan, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority chair­man and other officials attend­­ed the meeting.

‘Wilful harassment’ of foreign companies

Separately, speaking to a delegation of Albayrak Group, PM Shehbaz regretted that under the previous government, Lahore was intentionally targeted and international companies were unjustly harassed.

Moreover, he said, companies and institutes were destroyed with political inductions.

The prime minister said during PML-N’s previous tenures in the province, they had provided the residents of Lahore with international standard facilities.

With global investment, the government had introduced latest modes of travelling, solid waste management facilities and created job opportunities, he added.

The delegation expres­sed interest in investment in different sectors.

During his recent visit to Turkiye, the group had apprised the prime minister of its keen interest to invest in Pakistan and their upcoming visit.

PM’s Adviser Ahad Cheema, PML-N senior leader Khawaja Hassan, Board members of Albayrak Group and other officials were present on the occasion.

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2023