Pakistan, US agree to extend cooperation in power sector
By Adnan Rafique

ISLAMABAD—The Ambassador of United States of America to Pakistan has offered to extend cooperation in power sector and to hold a joint international investment conference on coal based projects in Islamabad in May/ June 2008. US also offered to provide every possible technical and financial assistance to Pakistan to promote private investment in power sector.
This was decided in a meeting between US Ambassador in Pakistan, H.E Ms. Anne W. Patterson who called on the Federal Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervez Ashraf in his office today. The regional and global situation along with bilateral cooperation between the two countries particularly investment opportunities in power sector came under discussion in the meeting.
The Minister, while welcoming the US Envoy stated that Pakistan had close and long standing relations with United States of America and stressed the need for continued support of US to help overcome the energy shortage in Pakistan. Efforts were being made to bring new power projects in the Private Sector besides limited intervention in the public sector, he added. The Minister was of the view that USA could play a vital role in mobilizing private investment in the power sector of Pakistan besides technical and financial assistance. He said that Pakistan had large coal deposits for over 180 Billion tons at Thar and sought assistance to develop affordable power by using indigenous resources. He informed the envoy that an international seminar on coal development might be organized in May 2008 and USA could help in organizing the event and participation of world class experts which was agreed. He further informed that Pakistan was interested to import 1000MW electricity from Central Asian States and sought the US assistance in construction of transmission line project.