Power protests : Sharif blames federal govt for blackouts

PML-N chief says he supports ‘peaceful public reaction’ to frequent outages.


Express October 03, 2011

LAHORE:


Amidst vociferous protests against frequent power outages in Lahore, chief of the ruling party in the province exonerated the provincial government, putting the blame squarely on the federal authorities.


Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday following huge and violent protests that the federal government’s “inefficiency, malpractices and self-motivated policies” were to blame for the long hour power outages in Punjab. “Those who have ruled the country for three and a half years cannot evade the blame for the snowballing power crisis in the country,” Sharif said in a press release, referring to the rival Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Sharif believes the existing power generation projects can meet the domestic energy requirements, if the government reset its priorities and shun its petty interests. He said that the power crisis has hit the industries hard, rendering thousands of people jobless and weakening the national economy. “Ironically, power generation units are rusting at the Karachi port,” he said referring to the floating power plant.

He added that some of the country’s power generation units were closed due to the shortage of fuel, while others were not utilising their full capacity.

Sharif said he fully supported the peaceful reaction of the people against this “distressing situation”. He promised to discuss this issue in the PML-N meeting tomorrow and will ask for formulating a comprehensive strategy. Sharif said that all lawmakers and office-bearers of the PML-N stand with the people in this situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2011.

COMMENTS (5)

aqeel | 12 years ago | Reply

this is what on Mian Sahib working ,is that the vision our PM in waiting having to solve the energy crisis in our beloved country.He should come up with a plane to solve this crisis rather to protest or instigating the people of punjab to destroy the public property.people Knew very well that you have been and still ruling the 60 percent of pakistan..regardless of the fect when people need your leadership you was not there. SO plz mobilize the people on other major issues b4r its to late because IMRAN KHAN is penetrating into your vote bank beleive or not its happening .

Javed Afzal | 12 years ago | Reply

Anyone following the news is aware of Nawaz Sharif’s fondness for indulging in petty squabbles. Currently, he is busy slandering the military’s and president’s reputation. If NawazSharif is so terribly hurt by our military establishment’s conduct, then he should work on preparing alternatives to clean up their mess. PML-N leaders are putting on a show merely to distract the public from the real grievances confronting our country. Instead of bickering about military’s fault, Mian Sahib should concentrate on clearing out the real problems facing his province that is poverty, poor law and order situation and education. Leaving rhetoric against corruption and bad governance aside, PML-N has yet to bring up a workable economic policy alternative. In fact, it remains rabidly obstructionist to reforming the tax system. Its political showcase, the Punjab government, is in a financial mess, with its much-trumpeted multi-billion-rupee Sasti Roti (cheap bread) Scheme becoming a damp squib in poverty alleviation. Dengue is engulfing citizens of Punjab. There are no spray machines and even no separator machines. Only single machine is installed in holly Family hospital Rawalpindi. Law and order is far from satisfactory. Is this the level of your good governance Mian Shahbaz Sharif. More appallingly, the anti-Lahore sentiments are building up in southern Punjab due to the lackluster performance of Shahbaz Sharif.

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