Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan Muslim League-N government is striving for solution of the problems being faced by the country and putting it on the road to progress and prosperity and all-out resources are being utilised for eliminating load shedding from the country.
He said under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif unprecedented work is being carried out for overcoming energy crisis. He said the PML-N government has introduced the culture of round the clock work for speedy implementation of projects and powerhouses are being set up expeditiously for resolving energy problem. He said thousands of megawatt electricity will be added to national grid with the completion of energy projects till 2017 and which will substantially reduce load shedding.
He was talking to delegations of office-bearers of PML-N on Sunday. The chief minister said that due to wrong polices and priorities of former rulers, the country was plunged in darkness. He said had the rulers of the past made serious efforts for overcoming energy shortage, the country would not have been facing this issue. He said that energy sector was badly neglected during the era of dictatorship while hurdles were also created in the implementation of power and other development projects through useless sit-ins. The chief minister said the PML-N government is working on coal, wind, solar, gas, hydel and other low-cost sources of power generation. He said that gas-based powerhouses of 3600 megawatts are being set up in the province.
He said that power plants based on gas being established by the present government are at half the cost compared to the past and will result in availability of cheaper electricity to the masses. He said that Sahiwal coal power plant will be completed before its stipulated period and the Chinese company working on this project has given assurance in this regard. He said that 1320 megawatts electricity will be produced by this project. Sharif said the Punjab government has signed an agreement with a Danish company, Vestas for the generation of 1000 megawatts electricity through wind. He said that the historic agreement signed with Qatar for the purchase of LNG will result in availability of low-cost gas to the citizens besides helping in eliminating load shedding from the country. He said that the agreement for the purchase of liquid gas is another gift for the nation after economic corridor project. He said that all necessary measures are been taken for resolving energy crisis and the journey of progress and prosperity has been started. He said that sincere efforts of the government for overcoming energy problem will prove successful.
Meanwhile, Sharif presided over a high level meeting which considered various proposals for provision of better services to the citizens. Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that concerned departments will have to play an active role for providing better services to the people of the province. He said that problems of people should immediately be resolved in government departments as availability of necessary facilities to the citizens on priority basis is of vital importance. Sharif said that immediate disposal of official responsibilities results in speedy solution of public problems and it is necessary to evolve an effective strategy for this purpose and ensure its implementation. He said that it is essential to adopt an effective approach for providing better services to the masses. He said that there is a need for effective steps for provision of better facilities in education, health and other social sectors. The chief minister was also given a briefing on various proposals for quick disposal of official matters. Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary, Chairman Planning and Development and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.