Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Thursday said Pakistan would encourage investment in utilization of alternate resources to fuel its economic growth through provision of cost-effective energy as well as reduce its dependence on expensive thermal power.

Speaking at a presentation on alternate energy resources, President Musharraf directed earliest implementation of projects, envisioned for making use of wind and solar energy, Pakistani news agency APP reported.

"We must make the best use of untapped energy potential in the form of wind and solar energy to meet the growing requirements in the long-term. This has become all the more important in the face of soaring oil prices," he said.

Musharraf noted that in recent years, Pakistan has been able to reduce its reliance on imported oil but added that mounting energy requirements on the back of robust industrial growth demand that the country exploits its hydropower capacity as well as benefit from abundant alternate energy means.

Source: Xinhua