LAHORE: Punjab Governor Sardar Latif Khan Khosa has lashed out at undemocratic forces for being responsible for the energy and economic crisis which the country currently faces.
Speaking at the Business Excellence Awards here on Wednesday, Khosa said consistent economic growth required democratic reliability, which the country lacked since its birth as conspiracy theories never allowed elected governments to work properly.
He said people were blaming the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government for the energy crisis, but asked what previous governments had done to meet energy demand of the country.
In 1996, he claimed, the PPP government planned to produce 40,000 megawatts of electricity, of which plants having combined capacity of 18,500 megawatts were installed. “At that time, we were also planning to export electricity to India.”
Since the end of the PPP government, no work had been done by other democratic and military governments to increase electricity production according to growing demand, he said.
Admitting that the electricity shortage was taking its toll on the economy, industries and jobs, Khosa stressed “we are trying our best to resolve the crisis. Businessmen often lash out at us but what can we do in the face of a huge circular debt.”
Defending President Asif Ali Zardari, Khosa said the president had surrendered his powers to the prime minister and parliament through 18th Amendment in the constitution. “Provinces have now the authority to produce electricity, then why Punjab is reluctant to construct power plants,” he asked.
He slammed the Punjab government for backing protests against the government under the cover of energy crisis, which worked not only against democracy but also against the country.
To build Pakistan, all would have to work together to solve issues, he said and cited the example of neighbours – China and India – which were on their way towards success due to a proper democratic system.
At the ceremony, 32 companies and organisations were awarded for their corporate social responsibility (CSR) work in flood-stricken areas of Sindh and Punjab in 2010 and 2011. Prominent organisations which won the award were the Engro Corporation, Ali Akbar Group, Pakistan Telecommunication Company, National Bank, Total Parco, Pakistan Petroleum, Pakistan State Oil, MCB Bank and Kashf Foundation.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2012.
COMMENTS (8)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
Would the said minister like to remind us what the PPP (Pakistan Feudal Party) position is on building of dams? Their IPP plan was all pie ion the sky. It was basically an opportunity for corruption. The country was flooded with inefficient and expensive oil furnace power stations. Now most of these piles of junk do not operate because the country can't afford the oil. Hydro power is the best option and under utilised.
@Ahmad: The problems PAK currently face were not created in a single 5 year period nor will they be fixed in a single 5 year. Almost everything in PAK is a basket case of some form. Any government could attempt to fix one thing and something else would become the major problem of the day.
What PAK lacks is a long range executable development plan that lives long after one political party comes to power and then is replaced. This failure to have a long term plan is now playing out before your eyes as it relates to a policy toward the US. What is now being discussed is much too narrow in scope and too short term to actually benefit PAK.
With each successive government the problems will only grow and become even more difficult to find any solution too. It really is about the institutions of government and not so much as how happens to be in charge.
Honorable Governor: It is very easy to dump blames on someone else.. What exactly PPP govt. has done to ease the sufferings of people in Pakistan over the last four years? Answer: None; in fact, the sufferings have been perhaps multiplied by a factor of 10, at least...
True and who are those forces...Ofcourse your party Sir..truely undemocratic
lets wait for PE PE aur PE Great leaders to pass a law and then asking PUBLIC to produce their own electricity, gas, and water and other amenities Plus food.( Because its not Govt responsibiliy as per World Bank Order).
why people do not produce when the Great Peoples government has allowed them??????
PPP and its coallition partners still think that people are fool but they are more aware of their wrong doings.
So 5 years into the party... we can expect no accountability, just the readiness for another party to begin.
Nothing true comes from MQM, ANP, PPP or PML-etc