News
PM Nawaz takes nation into confidence over plans to deal with challenges
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif in his maiden address to the nation on Monday since taking charge of his office, took Pakistani people into confidence in connection with the steps his government plans to undertake to tackle the challenges facing the country on a number of fronts.
He said not a single second passed when he did not try to figure out in his mind the solution to the problems facing the country.
The prime minister who was expected to take the nation into confidence over issues related to energy crisis, menace of terrorism and hike in petroleum and electricity prices, and national security policy told the nation that he would soon give good news of 6600 megawatt coal-fired power projects at Gaddani in Balochistan and other projects in Thar, which he said would gradually resolve the energy crisis.
He, however, said that he would not give a timeframe to materialize his plans.
The premier expressed resolve that the power crises would completely be resolved within five years.
He said that a delay in Nandipur power project, which was launched in 2007, resulted in the increase of Rs59 billion in its cost.
He said Pakistan is incurring a loss of Rs150 to Rs250 billion per year due to power and gas theft. “It is an open robbery on our national resources. The government will successfully deal with these thieves,” he resolved.
Nawaz said that the Federal and provincial governments are working in unison and are committed to end the power crisis.
Terrorism
After appraising the nation of his plans to address the problem of load shedding, the prime minister said that flawed policies to overcome terrorism led to killing of over 40,000 people including security personnel, destruction of Quaid-e-Azam Residency, killing foreign tourists in Skardu and mass jailbreaks.
He said though, the government had more than one option to tackle militancy, keeping in view the bloodbath in the country he invited all political parties resolve the issue through reconciliation. The prime minister said he wanted an end to terrorism whether it come through dialogue or use of force.
He said it is time to call a spade a spade. Time has come to tell white from black.
He regretted that terrorists strike a target in broad daylight and then successfully escape to their safe havens. They also become successful in breaking a jail and getting their companions free.
"I want an end to the bloodshed like any other Pakistani citizen."
The law and order situation is directly or indirectly connected to our Foreign Policy which requires to be reviewed. We would have become an Asian Tiger, had the 1999 era continued.
“We had reached on top. Our economy was number 1 in the region. We want to get back on the same track,” he asserted.
Kashmir
“I still believe that Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein. We cannot achieve any target without bringing stability to Pakistan.”
He said both the countries – Pakistan and India - should know that the wars have pushed us many years back. “This is the reason we want cordial relations with all our neighbors including India. Both should realize that we need to channel our energies towards betterment and progress of our peoples,” he added.
Drones
He said that Pakistan has made it clear time and again that drone attacks are against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. “They are also against the international laws.”
Afghanistan
The Premier said the policy towards Afghanistan needs to be reevaluated. "We have to seriously evaluate what we have gained and lost from our foreign policy."
Balochistan
He said the days of ignoring the Balochistan province are gone. The Federal government will provide all assistance and cooperation to elected representatives to tackle challenges facing the province.
Courtesy www.geo.tv
