SIALKOT: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan on Sunday said the government was taking concrete steps to overcome energy and gas crisis.

She stated this in a meeting with a delegation comprising members from Chamber of Commerce, Dry Port Association and Surgical Association of Sialkot, which called on her and Governor Punjab Sardar Muhammad Latif Khosa here.

The delegation was led by Chairman Chamber of Commerce Naeem Anwaar Qureshi and Chairman Dry Port Association Saddique Ishaq Butt.

She said that one more gas pipeline was being laid down from Wazirabad to Sialkot to resolve the problem of gas shortage in the city.

"We are focusing to generate electricity from hydel power which is cheaper and have also directed the provinces to initiate small projects to overcome the energy crisis", she said.

Around 2,000 megawatt electricity would produce through the factories' wastes which would also help resolve the issue, she added.

Keeping in view the energy crisis, she said that an energy conference would arrange in Lahore soon.

The Governor Punjab informed the delegation that the upcoming budget would be people and business friendly.

The suggestions would be sought from the Chambers of Commerce, Dry Port Association and Surgical Association in this regard which would be incorporated while planning the budget, he added.

Latif Khosa said the country could not progress without expanding the tax net.

The government is taking concrete steps to overcome prevailing energy crisis in the country, he added.

The delegation said 251 million dollars export is being made from Sialkot annually while the local industry is providing job opportunities to 400,000 people.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012