CM Buzdar commends jail solarisation plan

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that uninterrupted supply of electricity to jails will be ensured through solarisation.

The chief minister was speaking during a ceremony in which a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the provincial prisons department, Punjab Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency and Telephone Industries of Pakistan. Under the MoU, a 35-megawatt solar power plant will be installed for the prisons under the 'energy service company' model.

The document was signed by Prisons Inspector General Mirza Shahid Saleem Baig, Telephone Industries of Pakistan Chief Executive Officer Syed Amir Javed and Punjab Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency Managing Director Abdul Rehman.

Chief Minister Buzdar said the initiative would help in significant savings in electricity bills while ensuring the prisons' security.

The solarisation of universities had been started, while work in this regard for other educational institutions was in progress, he said, adding that the schools and basic health units (BHUs) in remote areas of South Punjab were being converted to solar energy.

Provincial Energy Minister Dr Akhtar Malik, chairman of the Planning and Development Board, principal secretary to the chief minister, irrigation secretary and other officials were also present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Buzdar and Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar met at the Governor House and agreed to intensify the ongoing measures for the development and prosperity of the people of the province.

According to an official statement, the governor appreciated the efforts of CM Buzdar in providing Insaf Cards in the province.

Both leaders accused opposition parties of creating obstacles in economic development in an undemocratic manner.

They expressed confidence that the PTI government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan would complete its term.

Governor Chaudhry Sarwar advised the opposition political parties to avoid point-scoring on every issue. He said the coming and next year's March would pass with the government firmly in place.

He said the opposition must give preference to national interests.

The governor said the purpose of every project, including the Sehat Insaf Card, was to provide relief to the people.

Chief Minister Buzdar claimed that the agenda of the opposition was to save itself.

He said the opposition had lost its standing and the people were with Prime Minister Khan.

He said the wishes of those desiring general elections before 2023 would not be fulfilled and the government would continue to counter negative politics with public service.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2022.