- PM performs ground breaking of $310m Gulpur Hydropower project that would add 102 MW of electricity to national grid
- PM regrets undue criticism of Kissan Package
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said the “days of leg pulling in politics” were over and those trying to prevent the government from taking the country forward must stop their negative tactics.
“We want to take Pakistan forward to a stage where it stands proudly amongst the comity of nations and urge all those trying to create obstacles to join hands for the country’s progress,” Sharif said at the ground breaking of the $310 million Gulpur Hydropower project here that would add 102 MW of cheap electricity to the national grid.
Without naming PTI, that party that lost the NA-122 by-elections, Sharif said those who lost should accept the result with an open heart. He said baseless allegations were levelled about rigging in the general election. “And now after free, fair and transparent elections, a PML-N candidate has won again,” he said, adding that in Okara even the security deposit of the PTI candidate was forfeited.
He also regretted the undue criticism against the Rs 350 billion Kissan Package that was aimed at helping the farming community and the country’s agriculture sector.
The prime minister said his government was committed to taking the country forward and a series of mega development projects were being undertaken across the country. He said opponents of the government were critical of the performance of the government as they swallow the fast pace of national development.
He said the PML-N believes in taking decisions of national interest with consensus and added the people of Pakistan can clearly see and understand who was serving the masses positively and who was trying to undermine the pace of development and progress.
He said that the Gulpur project would be completed with Korean investment of around $310 million and said it would go a long way in helping the country counter its acute power shortage. He said power outages have been cut down from 12 hours to six hours, owing to a number of effective measures taken by his government, since coming into power.
He reiterated his resolve that before the end of his government’s tenure, almost 3600 MW of electricity would be added to the national grid and the curse of load shedding would be over for good, by 2018. He said his government desires to build several new mega projects, particularly along the Indus River.
The prime minister said work on the Neelum Jhelum was also nearing completion. He said the project would be privatised and the Korean company may join the transparent bidding process.
Sharif also mentioned the Thar Coal project and said that 600 MW of electricity would be produced. He said that billions of rupees have been saved due to transparency in three power projects in Punjab.
The PM said the government’s objective was to produce electricity at cheap rates and was working on different alternatives including Liquefied Natural Gas, hydropower and fuel.
He said at present electricity was being produced at an exorbitant rate, which he pointed was no service to the people. He said that was why his government was committed to the production of cheap and clean electricity that was affordable for the common person and low cost for the industries.
