The energy crisis hit Pakistani industries have started importing coal-based small and medium sized power plants from India to meet their energy demands. Talking to Business Recorder, Zubair Tufail, former president of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) said that the plants being imported were mostly below the capacity of 10 megawatts. At least three local companies have made deals with Indian firms for import of plants.

According to him, the companies here will use local coal to run the plants which could also reduce the consumption and import of furnace oil. Despite the reservations of various sectors in the country, Pakistan will get a huge market in India after the normalisation of trade expected to be materialised by the end of this month.

Talking about the trust deficit hindering bilateral trade, he claimed that opening of investments across the border could build the trust of investors and businessmen on both sides. He further said speedy work on the Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline was needed without accepting any pressure from international powers as the project was important to meet the energy demands of Pakistan.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2012