KOTLI, Pakistan: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e Insaf (PTI) is fearful of the development agenda of the Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) and takes it as a threat for the next general elections.
In his address at the inauguration ceremony of 102 megawatt of Gulpur power plant at Kotli in Azad Kashmir on Thursday, Sharif urged the PTI to practice mature politics for the sake of the country.
The premier said that the PTI should accept the results of recently held by-polls in Punjab, adding the government desires a constructive and positive politics in the best national interests.
The prime minister aid that the government kept the PTI members part of the parliament by requesting the Jamiat Ulema-e Islam-F (JUI-F) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) to withdraw their resolutions against them.
However, he said that the nation should also see as to who is carrying forward the development agenda and who is impeding the process. He said the nation should take notice of the negative politics of the party and hold them accountable for their deeds.
Sharif regretted that the government approved a historic farmers package worth Rs350 billion but the PTI opposed it.
Federal govt plans to build small, big hydropower projects
Moreover, he said that the incumbent government plans to build a host of small and big hydropower projects to address the issue of electricity shortage.
The prime minster pointed out the foreign companies are showing great interest to invest in the country especially in the power sector. He said that the foreign investors should become partners in the mega projects of Diamer Basha and Dasu Dams which will add about which will add about nine thousand megawatt of electricity to the national grid.
Nawaz Sharif said that 969 megawatt Neelum Jhelum project is nearing completion and we are interested to privatize it after its commissioning.
Nawaz Sharif said the government is also setting up three liquefied natural gas (LNG) power projects having the capacity of 3600 megawatt. He said that the foundation stone of one of the power plants has been laid while Rs200 billion will be provided from the public sector development program for the other two LNG power projects. He added that these projects will become functional by 2017.
