Shahbaz Sharif says energy crisis can be overcome by ending circular debt

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Monday that the energy crisis could be overcome by ending circular debt, while Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Affairs Rehman Malik warned the CM that an FIR will be registered against him in case any Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) legislator met with an accident.
During a meeting held with a delegation of teachers at the Minar-e-Pakistan Camp Office, the chief minister said the education sector had suffered due to the power outages, adding that the energy crisis was a bigger problem for the country than terrorism.
“The education system has been affected due to the electricity load shedding and many students faced problems while appearing for their exams,” he said.
He said Punjab’s economy and industries had been ruined by the prevailing energy crisis but the federal government was paying no attention to it.
Shahbaz Sharif also blamed the federal government’s flawed policies for the current crisis.
However, it seemed like the CM’s protest had brought about positive results, as following his protests, three power houses in Lahore were been made operational adding 800MW of electricity to the national grid.
Sources said with the increase in power generation, the load shedding in the provincial capital is likely to decrease.
They added that the CM took a notice of the province-wide protests against the power outages which led to the killing of two people and injuries to several others.
Meanwhile, Rehman Malik, taking notice of incidents where national assets were damaged and of the attacks on the residences of PPP legislators, said the Punjab government has totally failed to provide protection to the public.
Malik added that the Sharifs were responsible for the sponsored disorder in the province and that instead of adopting preventive measures, Shahbaz had put the lives of his political opponents at risk just to gain political mileage.
He added that it was the responsibility of the provincial government, especially the chief minister to ensure protection to citizens but that Shahbaz had failed to deliver in an efficient manner.