News
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Nawaz pledges to overcome load-shedding* Says his government would initially put an end to unannounced outages
* Calls PML-N parliamentary party meeting to address Balochistan today
LAHORE: PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has said that the new government will make sincere efforts to improve electricity supply situation within the minimum possible time.
Speaking at a consultative meeting on energy crisis on Wednesday, he said that all available resources will be utilised to overcome load-shedding to provide relief to the people. He said overcoming the energy crisis will be the topmost priority of the new government along with revival of economy. The meeting discussed ways to increase power generation through various means to overcome electricity load shedding.
Nawaz said that after taking over the reins of the country, his government would initially put an end to unannounced load-shedding. He said that everyone had to work day and night to eliminate load-shedding, but explained that options such as generating energy through coal and sugarcane would require time. The PML-N chief added that both the local and foreign businessmen need to invest in the energy sector. He, however, said that development funds would not be frozen and diverted to the energy sector.
The meeting was attended by former federal finance minister Shaukat Tareen, Mian Mansha, Raja Zafarul Haq, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Ishaq Dar, Parvez Rashid, Khawaja Mohammad Asif, Sartaj Aziz, Ahsan Iqbal, renowned energy experts. Though other challenges faced by the country were also discussed in the meeting but the energy crisis remained the topmost agenda of the meeting.
Also, Nawaz has convened PML-N Balochistan parliamentary party’s meeting in Lahore today (Thursday). The meeting will address the issues related to Balochistan and energy crisis. The party sources informed on Wednesday that the party head would preside over the meeting at his residence in which all its parliamentary members would participate. Sources said that the meeting would discuss the issue of formation of PML-N government in Balochistan and options available to form alliances with the nationalist parties, especially after the announcement of victory of Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal in the general elections.
The PML-N would not only discuss the issue of Balochistan government and its coalition partners but also highlight other main issues like the energy crisis and possibly the drone attacks. The party heads would plan their strategy to deal with these issues. The sources said that the PML-N parliamentary members from Balochistan have been specially invited to the meeting. The sources were of the view that the party would also discuss the issue of the size of the cabinet and potential candidates for it, including the chief minister slot. staff report/agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk