France and Pakistan have agreed to cooperate in the nuclear field, officials said Friday, with Islamabad claiming an important breakthrough in its bid to be seen as a responsible nuclear power. Following talks between France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and counterpart Asif Ali Zardari, the French leader's office said he had offered to help Pakistan improve its "nuclear safety" capability.

Managing Director Pepco Tahir Basharat Cheema said that 3,000 MW electricity will be added into the system by the December 2009, which includes IPPs and rental projects being processed by PPIB in the private sector as well as the projects in the public sector by Pepco.

With surging mercury to maximum 40 degree centigrade, Karachiites on Thursday suffered at least 12 hours of electricity loadshedding because Karachi Electric Supply Company (KESC) could only supply 1710-MW against the demand of 2350-MW, falling short of 640-MW.

The government on Monday constituted a committee to take provincial governments on board for drafting amendments in the 'Power Policy 2002', particularly hydropower projects, official sources told Business Recorder. The decision was taken in a meeting of the Board of Private Power and Infrastructure Board (PPIB), presided over by the Minister for Water and Power, Pervez Ashraf.

Gujranwala Electric Supply Company (Gepco) has constituted various teams for the awareness of consumers on energy saving and its advantages. Talking to newsmen, Gepco Chief Executive Gujranwala region Rana Muhammad Ashraf on Wednesday said the teams would apprise general public, especially the owners of CNG stations, petrol pumps and traders, of ways to save energy to ensure smooth power supply.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director Rune Stroem has advised the Government of Pakistan to isolate the debt overhang of the power sector to overcome the energy crisis.

The Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, has said that Pakistan Steel will enhance its production from 1.1 million tons to 15 million tons, for which tenders will be called from international market, while six countries have already have shown interest in this regard.

Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Dr Ansar Parvez while addressing the 2009 convocation of the KANUPP Institute of Nuclear Power Engineering stated that Pakistan plans to build more nuclear plants in an effort to increase supply by a total of 8,800 MW.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have agreed to finance Diamer-Bhasha dam project, and the Planning Commission has asked the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to formally request assistance from them.

Punjab government has evolved a comprehensive programme costing more than Rs 1 billion to cope with the increasing level of pollution on account of increasing trend of population, industrial development and vehicles in the province.