ISLAMABAD – Power Division Minister Omar Ayub Khan on Monday stressed theneed for careful utilization of water as water storage capacity was fastdepleting.
The minister said investment in water resources would help enhance thecountry’s GDP by one per cent. Unfortunately, he added, no work was carriedout on the construction of dams after Tarbela and Mangla.
“The government is actively working on a plan to harness water resources inthe country in order to add 18,000-20,000MW hydel power to the system,” hesaid. Currently, the country’s total installed capacity stands at over31,000MW and it will be enhanced to 55,000MW by 2030.”
Omar Ayub said floating solar panels were being installed at Tarbela,Mangla, Ghazi Barotha and Khanpur reservoirs as well as along canals. thiswould not only help reduce water evaporation but also generate electricity,he added.
The minister said as many as 8,000MW electricity clean renewable energy(RE) would be added to the system by 2025 and 20,000MW till 2030.
He lamented that the past government of PML-N had shelved RE project onlyto pave way for setting up expensive R-LNG power projects.
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Speaking on the occasion, Chief Meteorologist Muhammad Riaz Ahmed saidclimatic changes have a deep impact over water resources in Pakistan. Heexpressed fear that a rise in temperature could aggravate water crisis infuture.
He said construction of more water reservoirs was the need of the hour tomeet the country’s future water demand.
Later, while taking to media, the minister said RE draft policy was framedunanimously after consultation of all provinces.
