Promise to end power outages seems coming true: PM

JHANG: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that the promise of bringing an end to power loadshedding he made with the nation appeared to be coming true.

He slated those who had nothing to do but to criticise the government on one pretext or the other as they could see nothing positive.He expressed these views while addressing the ground breaking ceremony of 1,230MW RLNG combined cycle power project in Haveli Bahadur Shah near Jhang on Friday.

He claimed that the project would help in resolving the issue of energy shortages in Pakistan and would boost the country’s economy.The prime minister said that the caravan of progress would continue to move ahead despite critical elements. “I see now a clear destination ahead as the government has successfully put the country on the path of progress and well-being.”

Nawaz Sharif said, “I am seeing that my dream of ending loadshedding is going to come true as I had promised with the nation and by completing such other power projects by 2017, there will be no loadshedding in the country.”

The prime minister asked whether the series of groundbreaking of power plants, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), action against terrorism and economic revival did not show performance of the government. He said, “What does performance mean to someone?”

The RLNG combined cycle power project is a fast track initiative which will be completed in a short period of 30 months and will be the most efficient plant in the region.Nawaz Sharif said that work on the CPEC project was being carried out swiftly and would be completed soon.

He said, “We are working on other projects in the energy sector and also on road projects. We have three major targets — ending power shortages from the country, revival of economy and rooting out terrorism.”

“The business activities in Karachi are getting full pace, investors are coming in the country and peace is being restored. We are laying gas pipelines as today we have signed an agreement with the Russian government for laying a South-North pipeline. An LNG terminal will also be constructed at Port Qasim. The pipeline and terminal will be completed simultaneously,” he said.

The efficiency of the power project at Haveli Bahadur Shah will be 62.44 percent as compared to Nepra’s allowed efficiency benchmark of 57 percent.Owing to its efficiency more than the Nepra benchmark, the plant, after completion, will save a huge amount of Rs6.6 billion every year through its outstanding production capability.

There are also two other such plants including Bhiki power plant and Balloki power plant which will also save the same amount yearly. These three plants will save Rs18 billion a year.The premier said that inflation in Pakistan was at the lowest as the interest rate had also slid down and foreign exchange reserves were all time high. “We are delivering, doing efficient work and the rating agencies have rated the economy from negative to positive.”

On the occasion, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that it was for the first time in the country’s history that energy and development projects were being accomplished at such a high speed and with utmost transparency.

Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana and Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong were also present on the occasion.“Transparency is the hallmark of our government’s projects and we are spending public money with utmost honesty,” Nawaz said.

He hailed the Islamabad High Court’s decision of setting aside the Election Commission of Pakistan’s earlier order to suspend parts of the National Kissan Relief Package. On the occasion, he announced reduction in the price of fertilisers such as DAP, Nitro-phos and Urea to benefit the farmers. “Now that the IHC verdict has been announced, we will not waste any time in providing relief to our farmers,” he said announcing Rs500, Rs218 and Rs150 price cut on DAP, Nitro-phos and Urea respectively.