PM orders cut in load shedding duration by next month

LAHORE:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his annoyance over the prolonged load-shedding durations and directed the authorities concerned to take steps for significantly reduce the outages by the next month.

According to Express News, Prime Minister Shehbaz directed for urgent measures to mitigate peoples problems, saying that neither he would rest, not would let anyone rest, until the people get rid of the scourge of load-shedding. Shehbaz directed for reducing power glitches on an emergency basis.

Shehbaz criticised the previous Pakistan TEhreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for the people’s woes. He said that the previous government neither purchased fuel, nor repaired the power units. “The previous government closed power units, which were set up by our government to generate low-cost electricity.”

He mentioned that the former Nawaz Sharif’s government had generated surplus power, but Imran Khan’s government failed to add even a single unit to the national grid. With destruction of energy sector, he said, a conspiracy was hatched to deliver a fatal blow to the economy of Pakistan.

Shehbaz said that the PTI government utilised those low-power generation units which generated expensive electricity. “Due to this injustice, the nation has to pay the heavy price in the shape of Rs100 billion every month,” he added.

The prime minister said that a liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship, which cost Rs6 billion, was now priced at Rs20 billion, as a result, the nation had to pay more than Rs500 billion this year “due to such injustice done by Imran Khan’s government”.

“All possible efforts should be made to save the people from the discomfort created by the criminal negligence of the former government,” he said and directed the authorities concerned to make temporary arrangements till the provision of oil and gas.

Also read: Reduction in power shortfall fails to curb load-shedding

Kot Lakhpat jail

Shehbaz also visited Kot Lakhpat jail. He ordered the formation of a committee, led by Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and comprising relevant officials from all the provinces, to chalk out a comprehensive strategy for the provision of basic facilities to the inmates and improve the overall prison system.

Shehbaz also announced two-month remission in the jail sentences to the prisoners on the occasion of Eidul Fitr. He said that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that a prisoner, after his release from jail, should become an efficient citizen of society.

He also directed the jail authorities to utilise all the available resources in an effective manner to meet the basic requirements of jail inmates. In this regard, the prime minister directed for further improvement in dining and health facilities to prisoners.

He also directed for effective use of skills development resources, so that prisoners could spend time in jail in a positive manner and adequately gear up for playing an effective role in the society after completion of their jail terms.

Talking to state media later, the prime minister said that he had set up a committee headed by the interior minister to introduce the much-needed jail reforms. Sharing his personal experiences, he said that jails lacked basic facilities for prisoners, including washrooms, toilets, laundry and health facilities.

The prime minister mentioned different issues faced by the prisoners and said there were a number of prisoners who had completed their jail terms but could not be released as they had no financial resources to pay their fines.

Similarly, others had relatives living in far-flung areas and they could not visit jail regularly to meet them. Moreover, there were prisoners who did not afford to hire lawyers, he added. He expressed the hope that the jails reforms would be introduced in accordance with the rules and laws.

On the occasion, he announced upgradation of perks of the jail staff at par with the police force. He also lauded Aleem Khan for donating a hospital for the treatment of jail inmates.

Later, the prime minister also visited Ramazan Bazaar set upon in Johar Town and issued direction for ensuring the provision of edible items at low prices.

Visit to PKLI

Later, the Prime Minister’s Office said that Shehbaz also visited the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) in Lahore, where he took round of different blocks of the hospital and received a briefing. Shehbaz sought a detailed report from the relevant officials on operational issues in the next 48 hours.

PM Shehbaz Sharif visited Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute Lahore today. The Prime Minister visited different blocks of the hospital and was briefed about the issues. PM directed to present a detailed report on operational issues in the next 48 hours,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on Twitter.

 

“Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif visited the Special Treatment Unit at PKLI and was briefed about the state-of-the-art treatment facilities available to patients at the Special Treatment Unit,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a separate tweet on the social media platform.

Talking to the media during the visit, the prime minister said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide medical facilities to the poor people, therefore, the previous Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government had set up the hospital.

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He said that only 17% people were getting free treatment at the KPLI, stressing that those who could afford to pay for their treatment should be given priority. “The hospital consisted of 20 units but only 16 are operational,” he regretted. He promised to further improve the condition of the hospital.

Aid to farmers

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif directed the Punjab government to provide immediate financial assistance to the farmers whose 90,000 kilogrammes of wheat was burnt in a fire incident in Sialkot district. Checks be provided to the farmers immediately, he said.

 

On April 23, 2022, a ready-to-harvest crop of wheat over 76 acres caught fire and burnt in Sialkot. According to an official report, wheat crop of 15 growers was destroyed by the fire, which was caused by technical malfunction of a machine in the field.

The investigation further revealed that 80 liters of diesel stored near the machine also caught fire, adding that due to the long distance, the fire brigade could not reach quickly. When the fire brigade reached the scene, it prevented the fire from spreading to 135 acres.

(With additional input from News Desk)