Devil Soul
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2010
- Messages
- 22,931
- Reaction score
- 45
- Country
- Location
European Investment Bank willing to invest in energy sector
July 16, 2013
ISLAMABAD - The European Investment Bank is willing to invest in energy sector of the country and Europe is interested to support Pakistan in run of the river projects of small and medium size.
Representatives of the EU stated this while talking to Federal Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Monday. Pierre Mayaudon, Deputy Head of European Union led the delegation. He was also accompanied by other senior officials of the delegation. Members of the delegation discussed the issues of bilateral interest including trade, energy and future role of Planning Commission.
The delegation told that European Investment Bank was willing to invest in energy sector of the country. Europe was interested to support Pakistan in run of the river projects of small and medium size. They also pointed out some of the problems they were facing regarding investment. Minister told them to write him in case of any hurdle they face and assured his full cooperation in execution of the development projects. He told them that Prime Minister was unhappy over the delay in hydro-power projects especially the Nelum-Jhelum hydropower project. He told that provinces were free to execute hydropower projects and that the federal government will support them in this regard.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal told the Deputy Head that this was not best time when we came into power and that there were many challenges we are facing. But he pledged that challenges were not bigger than hope and their commitment.
He told the Deputy Head that Pakistan and European Union were not only partners or friends but something beyond that. He thanked and praised the role EU played during their long struggle against Autocratic Ruler General Pervez Musharraf. EU was the only voice from West in favour of pro democratic forces. Stance of European Union was very much principled and that we admire the support which EU rendered for the cause of democracy in Pakistan.
Pierre showed his commitment on behalf of EU for the contribution to development in Pakistan. He also told that they were working on an institutional framework to develop ties between the two countries. He also informed the minister about the development in trade negotiation between EU and Pakistan. He told they were developing a link between EU and Pakistan to fight terrorism jointly.
He discussed EU-Pak five year development engagement programme. He also talked about 2009 & 2010 EU Pak summits and also EU Pak strategic dialogue in 2012. EU delegation focused on future of planning commission and energy crisis.
Responding to the question of Pierre, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal told that Planning Commission had independent role in 1990s but during last 14 years commission was stripped off and was made a subordinate department of Ministry of Finance. This hampered the role and functioning of PC.
We have decided to transform PC into independent body with two major functions.
Firstly, it would be developed into a strategic development think tank rather than a body making repairs into government ministries. It would plan out development programmes regarding future needs of growing population so that we do not face a crisis like energy crisis. Secondly, it would be developed not only setting out goal post but also to transform production sector from commodity to high value addition. Now we are facing uneven approach in development programmes but after the development of role of PC we will have comprehensive linkages in planning but this needs complete restructuring of PC. We want to get rid of old traditional role of PC which led to deterioration.
We are planning to attract Pakistani talent world wide and engaging them into a participatory mode for planning, development and ideas. We are starting with Pakistan talent bank of young professionals to engage them in a fellowship programme so that we utilise their best talent and that we are also trying to create strong technology platform. We believe only the hardware building is not the complete development.
There is another side of it, which is software development in the form of social capital and positive values. In order to develop soft side of the programme we have already engaged social engineers to mould society into a positive and constructive resource.
Minister told that they were planning to make use of GIS imagery and satellite based technology in place of old fashioned maps in order to get accuracy and reliability. We are planning to establish GIS data center in Planning Commission.
Representatives of EU praised the ideas of the Minister and assured their full support of high level expertise from Europe. Minister told the Representative that they had asked the World Bank to extend its support in improving governance side. He also told that they were engaged with Asian Development Bank in a long term programme for a similar purpose.
European Investment Bank willing to invest in energy sector
July 16, 2013
ISLAMABAD - The European Investment Bank is willing to invest in energy sector of the country and Europe is interested to support Pakistan in run of the river projects of small and medium size.
Representatives of the EU stated this while talking to Federal Minister for Planning Prof Ahsan Iqbal on Monday. Pierre Mayaudon, Deputy Head of European Union led the delegation. He was also accompanied by other senior officials of the delegation. Members of the delegation discussed the issues of bilateral interest including trade, energy and future role of Planning Commission.
The delegation told that European Investment Bank was willing to invest in energy sector of the country. Europe was interested to support Pakistan in run of the river projects of small and medium size. They also pointed out some of the problems they were facing regarding investment. Minister told them to write him in case of any hurdle they face and assured his full cooperation in execution of the development projects. He told them that Prime Minister was unhappy over the delay in hydro-power projects especially the Nelum-Jhelum hydropower project. He told that provinces were free to execute hydropower projects and that the federal government will support them in this regard.
Prof Ahsan Iqbal told the Deputy Head that this was not best time when we came into power and that there were many challenges we are facing. But he pledged that challenges were not bigger than hope and their commitment.
He told the Deputy Head that Pakistan and European Union were not only partners or friends but something beyond that. He thanked and praised the role EU played during their long struggle against Autocratic Ruler General Pervez Musharraf. EU was the only voice from West in favour of pro democratic forces. Stance of European Union was very much principled and that we admire the support which EU rendered for the cause of democracy in Pakistan.
Pierre showed his commitment on behalf of EU for the contribution to development in Pakistan. He also told that they were working on an institutional framework to develop ties between the two countries. He also informed the minister about the development in trade negotiation between EU and Pakistan. He told they were developing a link between EU and Pakistan to fight terrorism jointly.
He discussed EU-Pak five year development engagement programme. He also talked about 2009 & 2010 EU Pak summits and also EU Pak strategic dialogue in 2012. EU delegation focused on future of planning commission and energy crisis.
Responding to the question of Pierre, Prof. Ahsan Iqbal told that Planning Commission had independent role in 1990s but during last 14 years commission was stripped off and was made a subordinate department of Ministry of Finance. This hampered the role and functioning of PC.
We have decided to transform PC into independent body with two major functions.
Firstly, it would be developed into a strategic development think tank rather than a body making repairs into government ministries. It would plan out development programmes regarding future needs of growing population so that we do not face a crisis like energy crisis. Secondly, it would be developed not only setting out goal post but also to transform production sector from commodity to high value addition. Now we are facing uneven approach in development programmes but after the development of role of PC we will have comprehensive linkages in planning but this needs complete restructuring of PC. We want to get rid of old traditional role of PC which led to deterioration.
We are planning to attract Pakistani talent world wide and engaging them into a participatory mode for planning, development and ideas. We are starting with Pakistan talent bank of young professionals to engage them in a fellowship programme so that we utilise their best talent and that we are also trying to create strong technology platform. We believe only the hardware building is not the complete development.
There is another side of it, which is software development in the form of social capital and positive values. In order to develop soft side of the programme we have already engaged social engineers to mould society into a positive and constructive resource.
Minister told that they were planning to make use of GIS imagery and satellite based technology in place of old fashioned maps in order to get accuracy and reliability. We are planning to establish GIS data center in Planning Commission.
Representatives of EU praised the ideas of the Minister and assured their full support of high level expertise from Europe. Minister told the Representative that they had asked the World Bank to extend its support in improving governance side. He also told that they were engaged with Asian Development Bank in a long term programme for a similar purpose.
European Investment Bank willing to invest in energy sector
