Sharif says ties with India should be improved through dialogue
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday said that it was for the first time in the history of Pakistan the government was saving the country’s money in different projects.
Addressing journalists at the Governor’s House, he said that public money should be utilised purely for the welfare of the masses. He said that the foundation of a great project had been laid in Bhikki, which was another achievement as the project had a very low cost. As per NEPRA tariff, the project was to cost Rs 93 billion, but now Rs 55 billion would be spent and a huge amount of money had been saved in just a single project, he added.
Sharif said that the practice of saving the country’s money had been started by the PML-N government, adding that no such practice was made by the previous governments during their tenures.
He said that cheaper electricity would be generated under the project. Whereas previously, for a lot of years the electricity was being produced at higher rates, he added.
The prime minister said that generating electricity at low rate, and bringing down the cost of any project was something new.
He said that different electricity generation projects, including the one at Sahiwal, were a hope for future. He said that with the grace of Allah, the electricity shortage crisis would be resolved.
Sharif said that the Thar coal mines were there for many years but unfortunately negligence was shown and these resources were not used to bring any improvement. He said that if the government would serve the people they were ready to give it a number of chances.
Discussing LNG power projects, the premier said that the Ministry of Petroleum and Ministry of Water and Power are working in close coordination to complete the projects.
“Along with LNG, a total of 3,600 megawatts would be added by the summer of 2017,” he informed.
TIES WITH INDIA:
Sharif said ties with India should be improved through dialogue and that a solution for Kashmir should be found and implemented as soon as possible.
“We are neighbours and should live like good neighbours, while taking into consideration the feelings of Kashmiris,” the premier said.
Sharif also spoke on the Kashmir issue which he raised at the 70th UN General Assembly last month.
“I told UNO that it was their security council’s order to find solutions which they should now make sure are implemented,” he said, adding that, “I also gave proposals of how to improve relations with India.”