Energy shortage to end by 2018, says Nawaz Sharif

Sindh CM stays away from PM's engagements.

Islamabad: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Monday said energy, communications and elimination of terrorism were top priorities of his government.
"We are determined to end energy shortage by early 2018; building network of motorways for connectivity across Pakistan and uprooting terrorism and extremism completely," the prime minister said while addressing an award giving ceremony of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industries in Karachi.
Sharif flew to Karachi for a day-long visit during which he also received a briefing at Port Qasim on two under construction coal-fired power plants at a cost of $1.5 billion with a total generation capacity of 1,320MW.
He said huge reserves of coal, being mined at Thar in Sindh, would be used in four power plants being built at Port Qasim, Jamshoro and Sahiwal. In addition, other energy projects have also been undertaken to produce about 10,000 MW of power to resolve energy problem of the country which was imperative to bolster economy including industry and agriculture. Long-term hydel projects like Bhasha and Dassu have also be launched to meet water and power needs.
The prime minister announced that electricity rates for industry would be reduced by Rs3 per unit from January next.
For connectivity, Sharif said construction of motorways has been resumed from where he had left in 1999 when his government had been toppled. Balochistan is being connected with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while work on Karachi-Hyderabad-Sukkur-Multan and Lahore has been initiated.
He said operation against terrorism had yielded positive result across the country, particularly Karachi where normalcy has been largely restored. These operations had enjoyed national consensus. He praised the role played by Rangers and administration in restoring peace and order in Karachi.
Earlier, on arrival he was received by Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad and Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah. The chief minister, however, was conspicuous by his absence from other engagements of the premier. The domestic media viewed this absence against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between the federal and provincial governments over extension of policing powers to the Rangers in Karachi.
PPP's Senator Saeed Ghani dismissed these speculations and stated that the chief minister was indisposed and had already regretted to the prime minister that he would be unable to attend any other function.
One media report said Sharif asked Qaim Ali Shah to visit Islamabad to discuss the feud over Rangers' powers.
news@khaleejtimes.com

• Pakistan