Turkey to further ties in power sector

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey on Monday agreed to work collectively on different sectors, particularly in the power sector.

Minister for Power Division Awais Leghari and Ambassador of Turkey in Pakistan Mustafa Yardakul discussed matters related to cooperation in different areas in a meeting.

Yardakul appreciated the endeavours of incumbent government towards enhancing and accelerating the bilateral relations with Turkey and the contribution made by power division.

“Power sector is the fast growing sector in Pakistan and its progress has been considered as praiseworthy,” the Turkish envoy said in a statement. “Turkish investors are interested to further invest in power sector as it is the fast growing sector in Pakistan and its progress has been considered as exemplary.” Ambassador Yardakul assured the minister that the Turkish investors would keep on extending assistance to Pakistan in the power sector. “Turkey will also look into investing in the service delivery at the distribution level,” he said.

Turkish Zorlu Energy has already set up wind and solar power projects in the country.

Pakistan is seeking investments in power distribution and transmission sector which is added with additional load following the start of energy projects. The country is expected to witness 10,000 megawatts of additional electricity during the current year as a number of power projects are nearing completion under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.

China pledged more than $50 billion in investment in infrastructure developments in the country. Of that, $38 billion has been committed for energy sector. Leghari said the government focuses on strengthening bilateral relations with Turkey.

“Pakistan and Turkey are bosom friends and this friendship will last forever,” he said. “We are eager to collaborate on different projects with Turkey to nourish this relation and to collaborate in energy sector particularly.”

Power minister said Pakistan and Turkey have very strong bond and “with every passing day both countries are embracing strong and closest relations”. The minister invited the Turkish investors to participate in the consumer services as the country has achieved bridging the demand and supply gap.