Politics of sit-ins will not deter us, says PM Nawaz

‘Objections to key projects are not doing any service to the nation’


APP/Owais Qarni February 03, 2016
PM Nawaz receives a briefing on the progress of the Sahiwal Coal Power Plant. PHOTO: APP

SAHIWAL:


Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said that his government is committed to fast-track development of the country and will not be deterred by the petty politics of sit-ins.


Addressing a gathering after reviewing progress on the $1.8 billion Sahiwal Coal Power Project, he said the positive economic indicators and turnaround are a glaring proof of the government’s achievements in a short span of time.

Nawaz regretted the politics of criticism and confrontation, saying the protests against and objections to national projects for petty gains were not doing any service to the nation.

“Had there been no sit-ins in Pakistan, many of the delayed projects would have been completed by now,” he said, in a reference to the 2014 marathon sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) in Islamabad.

He said the planned agitations of opposition parties were prompted by a sense of fear as these parties were afraid that they would lose the political space due to the government’s development projects.

He said the government was committed to take the country forward on the path of progress and prosperity, adding that the ongoing projects are for the people and not for the workers of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) alone.

“Those, who were critical of the first motorway project in Pakistan, are today among the most frequent users of the facility but have no guts to admit its importance,” he said.

Responding to a question,  Nawaz Sharif said the Sahiwal Coal Power Project will have very positive impact on the country’s economic growth, which had been put on positive path after remaining negative during the last few years.

“It is for the first time in the country’s history that mega projects including those under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) are being completed on such a fast pace,” he said.

The prime minister said the Sahiwal Coal Power Project, after completion, will add 1320MW of electricity to the national grid. “It will help revive industrial sector, strengthen agriculture, boost exports, check unemployment and bring prosperity in the country,” he said.

He said as the coal power is economical it will help reduce the electricity tariff as well.



He referred to various ongoing mega development projects across the country including roads, motorways, power and gas projects, Metro Bus and Orange Line train and said all these projects would help improve the lot of the poor.

Nawaz Sharif said the Pakistan-China friendship had stood the test of time.

He referred to the Sino-Pakistan joint production of the JF-17 Thunder aircraft and said it was a symbol of their deep friendship and an important addition to the Pakistan Air Force.

Nawaz said he was proud that the two countries agreed on the joint production during his previous tenure. The prime minister also greeted the Chinese engineers and people on their new year and wished them the best of luck.

The PM earlier reviewed pace of work on 1,320MW Coal Power Project in Qadirabad area of Sahiwal. The project consists of two plants of 660 MW each while the total cost of the project is US$ 1.8 billion.

The first 660MW plant will start power generation by December 31, 2017 and the other of 660MW by June 30, 2018. The project also entails 9.5 kilometres transmission line of 500kv to be connected with nearby 500kva Grid Station at Yousafwala.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 3rd,  2016.

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