Energy crisis hurting country more than terrorism: CM

Posted on 10 months ago

F.P. Report
LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that loadshedding issue has hurt the country more than menace of terrorism.
He was addressing senior civil officers at his Tent Office, Minar-e-Pakistan, here today. The Chief Minister said that unjust loadshedding is not a provincial issue but it concerns 10 crore people of Pakistan who have to suffer agonizing loadshedding of upto 16 hours daily.
He said that had this unjust and cruel treatment been meted out to any other province he would have raised his voice in protest even then. He said that the scorching heat of Lahore cannot shake his determination and he will continue to sit in protest at Minar-e-Pakistan instead of his air-conditioned office until the federal government honoured its promise of uniform loadshedding throughout the country.
He said that all sectors of social life, including industry, agriculture, health and education, are being severely impacted by the energy crisis, and the issue of loadshedding, has become even more serious than terrorism, which has snatched people's livelihood, their rest in the night, alongwith increasing multiple difficulties for the common man.
He said people of Punjab are being specially targeted in regard to loadshedding and the industry of the province is being destroyed deliberately. He said the people of Punjab are being punished for electricity theft and line losses in other provinces. He said it was the need of the hour to implement uniform loadshedding to combat the energy crisis by implementing decisions of Energy Conferences but, unfortunately, that was not done, therefore, being the "Khadim-e-Punjab" it is his duty to protect the right of the people of the province at all cost.
He said Punjab government is working on multiple projects of generation of energy through coal, hydle, solar and other sources, alongwith implementing projects of electricity generation in industrial estates. He pointed out 1000 bio-gas plants to operate tube-wells, are being distributed among small farmers, whereas, planning regarding provision of solar penals to the downtrodden families of rural areas has been made.
The Chief Minister warned federal government not to create impediments in regard to electricity generation projects in provinces, and stressed that if other development projects can be expeditiously implemented, the electricity projects can also be operationalised at a quicker pace.
He regretted that had the precious wealth of the poor not been looted and plundered, through rental electricity projects, and, instead, these funds had been invested on inexpensive projects of energy generation, the nation would not have to face such agonizing loadshedding.
He said action on emergency basis, carried out with true sincerity, is needed to bring the country out of the energy crisis. He directed government officers to work with commitment and dedication and serve the masses with sincerity and honesty. He said that problems and sufferings of the people due to loadshedding have compelled him to set up Tent Office at Minar-e-Pakistan.
He said that the purpose of this Tent Office is also to give a message that official responsibilities can be discharged in a simple atmosphere and at minimum expenses. He said the Punjab government has adopted a policy of simplicity and frugality, and directed that this policy ought to be implemented in all government offices and development schemes. The Chief Minister directed the officers of the Labour Department to strictly ensure implementation of Rs.9000/- minimum wage for all the labourers throughout the province. Answering questions of the civil servants, Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said, that there is a need to discharge responsibilities with dedication, as Pakistan can only be transformed, into the country envisioned by Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal, through hard work and commitment. Senator Pervaiz Rashid, CS, Nasir Mahmood Khan Khosa and secretaries of different departments were also present.
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