Energy crisis serious, new sources must be tapped: PM

Prime Minister Raja Parvez Ashraf has said the government is focusing on hydel‚ coal‚ wind and solar power projects to meet the energy crisis and provide affordable electricity to the people.Addressing a ceremony after visiting the Neelum Jhelum Hydel project site in Azad Kashmir on Monday‚ he said despite the financial crisis‚ the government is giving subsidy of 209 billion rupees in power sector in order to provide relief to the masses.Raja Parvez Ashraf said 3300 megawatt of electricity has been added to the national grid during the last four and a half years. As most of these projects are thermal‚ therefore‚ electricity produced from them is expensive and the government is pressed to give subsidy on electricity.The PM said focus has been laid on the hydel and other alternative resources in order to generate cheap electricity.He said he will soon visit the Thar coal project to see the progress on the project.About the Neelum Jhelum project‚ the PM said this run of the river project will help generate cheap electricity of 1000 megawatt.Keeping in view the importance of this project to address the electricity crisis‚ he said he has directed to expedite work on the project. He said the installation of tunnel boring machine at the site will help complete the project on fast track basis.The Prime Minister said instead of giving political colour to the issue‚ we should make collective efforts to address the problem.