Energy crisis, extremism ‘hamper development’

Rawalpindi: Federal Minister for Commerce Khurram Dastgir Khan has said that energy crisis and extremism are the biggest problems of Pakistan and creating hurdles in national development.
He said that electricity crisis will be resolved in 2017 and to overcome gas crunch first LNG terminal will be completed in February and second one will be installed in May.
He stated this while addressing the business community during his visit to the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here on Tuesday. RCCI President Syed Asad Mashadi, Senior Vice President Mian Humayun Parvez, former presidents Sheikh Shabbir, S M Naseem, S M Azeem, Najam Rehan, Manzar Khurshid, members of the executive committee and other members of the chamber were present on the occasion.
The federal minister said that Pakistan will soon get 1000MW electricity under KASA-1000 project with Tajikistan. The government was working to enhance energy generation through furnace oil which will have a positive impact. “Political instability (dharna politics) badly affect the national development and destroy foreign investment opportunities in the country but the government is committed to facilitate the masses”, he said.
He said "In current situation, we cannot talk on trade enhancement with India. Once the situation gets normal, we will see." He said that the government was keen to enhance trade relations with every nation, especially Afghanistan and Central Asian States, are in focus of the government. The new Afghan government is cooperative and a positive policy shift could be found. He said that the RCCI is one of the best chambers of the country organising international expos with its own resources. The government will facilitate the RCCI in expos. He ensured his full support to the RCCI president.
Earlier, speaking on the occasion, RCCI President Syed Asad Mashadi said that the government should make business-friendly policies as prevailing policies are the main hurdle in the national economic uplift.