I welcomed my friend and business partner Iqbal Z. Ahmed to Oklahoma on Tuesday. Iqbal is the founding chairman of one of Pakistan’s largest energy businesses, Associated Group, and a partner in Pakistan Power Resources. He was at the Oklahoma State Capitol to announce nearly $100 million in contracts to Oklahoma-based businesses for the engineering, procurement, and construction of two new power plants in Pakistan.
Iqbal announced that Tulsa-based ProEnergy EPC Services would be awarded the engineering, procurement, and construction of two power plants in Pakistan. Engineering on the project will be subcontracted to EDG Engineers in Tulsa. In addition, a number of the components for these power plants will be manufactured in Tulsa.
“ProEnergy Services is a leader in the power industry and we are looking forward to our partnership with this company and several other Oklahoma-based companies in the development of these much-needed power plants in Pakistan,” Iqbal told those in attendance. “These plants must go online quickly, providing electricity to areas of my country that are currently dramatically underserved. I am impressed with the get it done attitude of these Oklahoma companies and their ability to provide the high-quality expertise the project requires in the timeframe it needs.”
Lt. Gov. Jari Askins welcomed Ahmed to Oklahoma and thanked him for the business partnership between Oklahoma and Pakistan businesses, as well as for his efforts to increase peace and stability in Pakistan and the region.
In addition to developing power plants to bring electricity to areas of Pakistan that have been underserved or without, Ahmed was instrumental in brokering a truce between then-President Pervez Musharaff and former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Ahmed is a vocal supporter of President Barack Obama’s proposal to shift the priority for U.S. aid to a greater emphasis on economic and social programs while providing needed support to the Pakistan military.
“I support President Obama’s proposal and believe that America’s more direct support for better health care, education and more jobs by funding the construction of hospitals, schools, and roads and bridges - will send a message to Pakistan’s current and next generation and their political leaders that Pakistan and America are partners in the long-term,” he said. “We have to give the political leaders in Pakistan the support they need in order to make the hard choices that will stabilize our democracy.”
Lt. Gov. Askins also presented him with a proclamation from Gov. Henry declaring it Iqbal Z. Ahmed Day in Oklahoma. Thanks to both Lt. Gov. Askins and Gov. Henry for their efforts to honor Iqbal and draw attention to the international scope of Oklahoma’s energy and energy-related businesses.
Iqbal made a special stop in Oklahoma for the announcement on his way to New York City and Washington, D.C., where he is attending a number of business and diplomatic meetings.
Local and national media covered the announcement. Here's a link to the story by Business Reporter Randy Ellis in The Daily Oklahoman.
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