In a refreshing gesture of shunning political rivalry, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari exchanged smiles and shook hands multiple times at the inaugural ceremony of Thar Coal Power Project on Friday.
The prime minister arrived in Mirpurkhas on the invitation of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari to lay foundation of the $1.6 billion mega Thar Coal Power Project.
Asif Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister (CM) Qaim Ali Shah received the Prime Minister, Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Dr Abdul Malik and some federal ministers at the SindhriAirport.
Addressing the ground breaking ceremony he said, “People should recognise that politics in Pakistan is done differently now. This project isn’t Sindh’s project; it is Pakistan’s project. This isn’t Zardari’s or Nawaz Sharif’s project; it is Pakistan’s project.”
He said everyone should get united for the development and progress of Pakistan, and with this way, we could complete 20 years project in 5 years only.
“Politics has its place. We all act according to our mandates, and Mr Zardari has passed on his mandate with an open heart,” he said.
Asif Ali Zardari said that the concept came about five years ago and the Pakistani leadership has matured to the extent that projects like this can be executed.
Speaking on this occasion, CM Sindh Qaim Ali Shah said Thar’s coal was like gold to the country, and now being jointly developed by the province and the federation.
He said the project would play a key role fulfilling country’s energy needs.