Ashraf, while addressing a reception hosted in his honour by the Pakistani community and PPP workers in Saudi Arabia, he urged all political parties to present their programmes and let the people decide.
He modified that analogy that if Jannat (heaven) lay under the feet of one’s mother, then politics lay under the feet of the masses.
Investment in Solar energy
The prime minister reached out to the Pakistani diaspora in the Arab nation, urging them to go beyond just sending remittances to their loved ones, and to invest in their home country.
The issues of the power sector still weigh heavy on Ashraf’s mind and it seems that the government has decided in principal to place its eggs in the solar energy basket as a solution to power woes of Pakistan.
The zeal and dedication of Pakistanis living abroad, Ashraf said, will never be forgotten when they extended support to the people of Pakistan during the years of floods and earthquake.
He urged the 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates living in Saudi Arabia, as well as those living in other countries, to invest in the different power generation projects, especially in solar energy, to overcome the energy crisis in the country.
Assuring that the present government will provide maximum protection to the foreign investment, the Prime Minister said that the government had adopted a number of investment-friendly policies in this regard.
He said the PPP has been making sincere efforts to give right of vote to expatriates, but stated the move had fallen prone to politics in this regard. He regretted that expatriates have not been allowed to contest elections.
President Pakistan Peoples Community, Jeddah, Riaz Bukhari demanded expatriates be given 100 pages passport.
He also asked the Prime Minister to provide legal assistance for Pakistanis held in different Saudi jails.
All weather friend from the west?
Prime Minister Ashraf was cognisant of the constant support that Saudi Arabia has extended to Pakistan. He appreciated Saudi government’s role in helping the country in its time of great needs.
He said it was his wish to make Saudi Arabia the first country for his official visit after he became prime minister, terming it as a “brother country” of Pakistan.
Ashraf said he is also thankful to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who accorded him an audience. He said the King has great love for Pakistan and remained with Pakistan and its people during all difficult circumstances.
Saudi King Abdullah assured Raja Pervez Ashraf that his country will extend its full cooperation to resolve energy crisis in Pakistan.
Nato route opened on principle
Ashraf also mentioned the Salala incident in his address, saying that Pakistan did not compromise on its principles and chose to reopen the Nato supply routes after an apology was offered by the US, in accordance with the recommendations of the Parliament.
Pakistan did not reopen Nato supplies for money, he insisted.
“We want Pakistan to be a facilitator in the withdrawal of Nato forces [from Afghanistan] by 2014 and wants an independent Afghanistan,” he added.
COMMENTS (16)
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With people looted with impunity and without fear by the dacoits there can be no law no order. No body will invest with a law and order situation like this. In Karachi they have let loose all the criminal elements. No body is safe any where.
There is a point in Jouhar where a guy sells flowers. He tells the girls to come again after an hour. Who is waiting for them a man with a huge gun and loots them The man selling the flowers informs them and they come and loot at gun point. The poor little girls are dispossessed of their little gold and every thing,
Elders go and threaten this guy who is hand in glove says at that point in a day 10 people are mugged every day, Who are these pepple he says a Pathan and a Baloch. The police knows it full well he says. But does nothing about it. May I ask why?
Mr. Raja just give us law and order we will solve all our own problems.
If you have a receptive mind and will to do then here is a suggestion to eliminate half of energy crisis: Eliminate the free electricity entitlement of Wapda employees and give them flat rate of Rs 300/- allowance against departmental facility. Believe you me half of the energy theft and line losses would be gone.
Consensus on the CEC appointment is admirable, Do more than predecessor,move toward the serious power short fall and remove the black dot from the face of Pakistan People Party for which Z.A.Bhutto and B.N.Bhutto sacrificed their lives.
I guess that's the only " achievement " that you had.
Just for your information Raja Rental: the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia are strong supporters of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf. So don't you worry sir, we WILL invest in Pakistan but your party won't be getting a slice of the pie meant for the masses.
Here are a few practical suggestions to overcome power shortage: Encourage the people to convert their homes into solar powered and provide all facilities for that. Many ex-pats from rural areas of Pakistan can help finance their own homes into solar powered. In addition govt should import and give away almost free of cost LED bulbs which last a lifetime and burn very little energy. All commercial users must be required to use only LED bulbs. The use of AC must be banned in all offices except during the hottest months. Heating of all offices in winter must be banned and the heating systems pulled out. The electricity rates must be increased a lot after the initial small essential use. In fact there should be a hefty surcharge on the sale of all AC and likes. The use of kunda must be stopped by increasing the fines to hundreds of thousands at a min. When a person uses this illegal method then they would have to pay huge bribes to police and it would not be of any benefit after that. When the police knows there is hundred thousand fine they would not accept less than 10-50 thousand. Nuclear knowhow must be used to produce power in the long run but the above can be implemented quickly. With the pre-paid only (like phone and Internet) the power theft would be reduced greatly and the bills paid in advance.
......and his audience must have had a good laugh.
"If Jannat (heaven) lay under the feet of one’s mother, then politics lay under the feet of the masses."
The masses do not want PPP any more to rule the country. Your time is over.
We are waiting for the caretaker setup in the country, followed by the general elections.
zero plus zero is zero so is zero multiplied by zero. It all adds up to zero. Hope not despair not.
It is true King Abdullah loves Pakistan. You also start loving the country and return the commission amassed from rental plants.
Definitely.. Man..
who is Hyrbyair Marri
when will pak pm be serious abt balochistan issue
who is Nawab Khair Baksh Marri?
when will pak pm be serious abt balochistan isuue
Yah right, we'll do anything and everything to help our motherland to overcome the energy crisis. The question is that would you bring back the money you looted while you were energy minister or your mentor (Zardari) will return the $60 millions to Pakistan which he acquired by illegal means, set an example first and then ask others to follow the lead.