RAWALPINDI, Dec 1: President General Pervez Musharraf on Friday vowed to develop the energy resources of the country on fast track basis to help meet the needs of the fast expanding industrial sector and sustainable economic development of the country.

He was presiding over a high-level meeting here on Friday to review the ongoing hydropower projects in the country.

The president was informed that Wapda was undertaking eight power projects expected to be completed by 2012. These projects would help generate additional 1,155 megawatts of electricity to help meet country's growing demands for the fast pace economic development.

He directed acceleration in pace of work on these projects and ensure their early completion to help meet the growing demands of the fast expanding industrial sector.

Foreign entrepreneurs intending to set up their industries in Pakistan should be assured supply of energy on sustainable basis, he said.

President Musharraf stressed the need for timely and efficient completion of these projects for sustainable economic growth of the country.

The meeting was also informed that the Rs62.5 billion Mangla Dam Raising project would make available 2.8 million acre feet of water and 644 megawatts electricity.

About the Gomal Zam Dam, the meeting was further informed that the project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs8.2 billion, having a storage capacity of 1.89 million acre feet.

The president said all dams including Kalabagh, Bhasha, Munda, Gomal Zam and Kurram Tangi would be constructed by 2015 as part of his water vision 2025.

If new reservoirs were not constructed now, the country would face acute water shortage with serious implications for its economic growth, he said.

He said the Mangla raising would help provide about three million acre feet of water for the benefit of the agriculture and industry.

About the recently-inaugurated Mirani Dam in Balochistan, President Musharraf said besides cultivating 33,000 acres of barren land and generating electricity, the dam would also generate about Rs100 million annually in fisheries sector.

He said the Subakzai dam, which was nearing completion, would be inaugurated next year and supplement water needs of the province.He said that the construction of 300-kilometre-long Kachhi canal from the Punjab to Balochistan at an estimated cost of Rs40 billion would help provide sufficient water for the agriculture of Balochistan.

Minister for Water and Power Liaqat Ali Jatoi also attended the meeting.—APP