Blame game: Federal govt ignoring Sindh, says Khursheed Shah

Shah laid foundation stone of 459-kilowatt solar project for operating tube wells in Patni

SUKKUR: Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, has accused the federal government of ignoring Sindh and said that not a single mega-project has been initiated in the province.

This he said while talking to the media after laying the foundation stone of a 459-kilowatt solar project for operating tube wells in Patni near Rohri, on Tuesday.

Shah believes that the deserts and the sunshine that Sindh has been blessed with can be used for generating power. However, no solar projects have been initiated in the province by the federal government, he said. Shah claimed that the government's vision is confined to the metro bus project only, for which they pay Rs2 billion subsidy every year.



Referring to the increasing prices of commodities, Shah said that instead of providing some breathing space, the government has crushed the masses under the weight of inflation. He expressed concern that the government has increased the rates of basic commodities and tax on petroleum products from 17 per cent to 50 per cent. Government has borrowed loans from international agencies, he said adding that he has tabled an adjournment motion in the national assembly, saying that the government should present four budgets in a year.

Speaking about the government's plans of ending power crisis by 2018, Shah said that by looking at the position of Nandipur and other power projects, achieving the target seemed impossible. He claimed that the prime minister did not reply to any of his letters and therefore he will produce those letters before the parliament.

Referring to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Shah said that they do not want a new Pakistan and added that Quaid-e-Azam's Pakistan is better for everyone. He further said that change does not come by constructing hospitals, but rather one has to do much more for the welfare of the masses.

Earlier, while talking to the media at his residence on Monday night, Shah strongly criticised the federal government for presenting a mini-budget of Rs40 billion. Referring to good governance, he said that reshuffle in the Sindh cabinet is part of it. Replying to a question about Nabil Gabol's rejoining Pakistan Peoples Party, Shah said that the party will soon make a decision about it.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd,  2015.