‘Indian water aggression being highlighted globally’

Punjab governor agrees to discuss energy price disparity with prime minister

LAHORE: Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana has promised businessmen that he will take up the issue of disparity in electricity and gas prices between provinces with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Talking to Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Abdul Basit and executive committee members at the chamber premises, the governor assured them that he would extend all cooperation to the business community for the cause of economy.



“Strong relations between the government and private sector are vital to keep the momentum of growth,” he said.

Replying to a question, the governor emphasised that the matter of Indian water aggression was being raised at international forums.

Talking about government’s achievements, he outlined the developments going on in the energy sector and believed Pakistan would be self-reliant in power generation by the year 2018.

He said the law and order situation was far better than the past and it would be much better in the days to come. “The tourism industry is booming while reforms in the agricultural sector are paving the way for an agricultural revolution.”

While agreeing to the LCCI proposal that important roads should be declared as industrial corridors, the governor urged the chamber to send recommendations in that regard.

He also gave assurances to them that he would forward their recommendations to the Punjab government about construction of parking plazas and ban on protests on city roads.

LCCI President Abdul Basit pointed out that Pakistan’s industry was in deep trouble in the international market because of the high input cost.

“Electricity is an important raw material and it should be provided to the industry at subsidised rates to boost the declining exports. There should be uniform gas and electricity tariffs throughout the country,” he said.



Regarding the disputed Kalabagh dam, Basit asked the government to take a clear decision on the mega project as provocative statements of the Indian prime minister were setting off alarm bells in the country. “All political parties should give priority to national interests,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2016.

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