LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government is honouring its promise of steering the country out of a quagmire of problems, and putting it on the road to progress.
Talking to the party’s office-bearers here on Monday, the chief minister said: “All-out resources are being utilised for putting an end to load shedding.” He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, unprecedented work was being carried out for elimination of energy crisis.
Shahbaz said that work on energy projects worth thousands of megawatts power generation was being carried out on a fast track. “Thousands of megawatt electricity will be added to national grid with the completion of energy projects,” he added.
He held previous governments responsible for pushing the country into darkness. “Had the past rulers made serious efforts for elimination of energy crisis, the country would not have facing such an acute shortage of electricity.” He said that energy sector was neglected during the dictatorial era, “while hurdles were created in completion of energy projects though aimless sit-ins”.
He said that 3,600MW gas-based power stations were being set up in Punjab. “Sahiwal Coal Power Plant will be completed before the stipulated period and it will generate 1,320MW electricity,” he added.
The chief minister claimed that the incumbent PML-N-led government had put the country on road to progress. He said why people would cast their vote on the basis of performance in the general election in 2018. “Those creating hindrance in the way of development of the country will once again have to face defeat,” he added.
Meanwhile, the chief minister Monday strongly condemned Indian firing on unarmed Kashmiris in Indian-Held Kashmir in which seven protesters were killed.
He said that the Indian Army was committing worst atrocities against Kashmiri people, and urged the world community to take notice of brutalities in Held Kashmir.
“Silence of international community on bloodshed of unarmed and innocent Kashmiris has no justification.” He said that the freedom movement of Kashmiri people could be pressed through barbarism. “India cannot deprive Kashmiri people of their independence through cruelties.”
He added, “India can neither hoodwink the world by staging sham elections in held Kashmir nor it can force it over Kashmiris.” He said that the violence policy of India had imbued a new spirit of freedom among Kashmiris.
Separately, Punjab Police Inspector General (IG) Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera paid a farewell call to Punjab chief minister here on Monday.
The chief minister appreciated the IG for making Punjab Police one of the best forces in Pakistan. He said that situation of law and order in Punjab had improved under the leadership of Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera.
He gave Sukhera credit for improvement in Punjab Police through the use of information technology. He said that the IG kept the morale of Police Department and police officers high during his tenure.
