The then advisor to Prime Minister on Power Yasin Malik has said that solar energy is the best solution to the ongoing power crisis in the country. This he said while addressing as a chief guest the 2nd International Conference on Alternate Energy and Power held here at Expo Centre on Tuesday. The conference was organised by the Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Power and E-Commerce Gateway Pakistan. Yasin said that government was taking steps to solve the problem of electricity shortage in the country. He urged private sector to invest in alternative sources of energy generation's projects. He said that thermal power is not only very expensive but cause environmental hazards, while energy produced through alternate resources is environment-friendly and cost-effective. He said that provision of subsidy by government to power sector is not the permanent solution of the problem. He called for making efforts to tackle the issue on real grounds. He invited the local and foreign investors to invest in power sector. CEO Alternate Energy Development Board (AEDB) Air Marshal Shahid Hamid (Retd) said that about 150 MW electricity would be generated through alternate resources by 2009. He said that the government has recently approved the bio-diesel policy to facilitate the investors of the sector, which would be implemented soon. He said that the board is acquiring land on lease from Sindh Government for the establishment of Wind Power Plants. Foreign and local experts also spoke on various aspects of renewable energy and its usage in Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2008