Agitation: Sit-ins delayed power projects, says Shahbaz

The CM says economic policies of the government are yielding positive results.

LAHORE: Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday the country’s foreign exchange reserves had increased owing to solid economic policies of the government.

He was talking to a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz delegation.

“Efforts are under way to develop industries, create more job opportunities, attract investment and overcome energy crisis,” the chief minister said. He said work on several power-generation schemes was ongoing and that thousands of megawatts would be added to the national grid by 2018.

Sharif blamed last year’s sit-ins in Islamabad for delay in the completion of these power projects. “Such elements take no interest in the country’s progress and addressing problems faced by people. They created obstacles in the way of national development,” he said.



The chief minister said $33 billion would be invested in power projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. He said coal-fired power plants were being set up in Sahiwal. He said that once the power projects were completed, the industry would flourish again. “This will help check unemployment and poverty in the country,” he said. He said public funds were being spent transparently.

Development projects

The chief minister chaired a meeting to review progress on several development projects across the province. He said billions of rupees was being spent on the uplift of rural areas. He said the government favoured sustainable urban development.

Sharif said that under the Khadim-i-Punjab Rural Roads Programme, special attention was being given to rural areas of southern Punjab. “These areas have also been given preference for the Saaf Pani project. Billions of rupees are being spent on the provision of safe drinking water across the province,” the chief minister said.

He said a modern transport system had been introduced in Lahore and similar projects were underway in other parts of the province.

“After the success of Metro Bus Service in Lahore and Rawalpindi, work is ongoing on a similar project in Multan. The Orange Line Metro Train project is being completed in Lahore. The project is a gift from China,” he said.

Adviser to Chief Minister Khwaja Ahmad Hassaan, Chief Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal, the Punjab Mass Transit Authority managing director, the commissioner, the information secretary, the Lahore Development Authority director general and the DCO attended the meeting.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 21^st,  2015.