Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has addressed the ongoing power crisis in Pakistan, stating that those protesting are engaging in “politics for the sake of politics.” He emphasized the government’s efforts to address the issue, highlighting the progress made during his brother Nawaz Sharif’s previous tenure. During a cabinet meeting in Islamabad, Sharif condemned the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, calling it a “brutal act of savagery.” He expressed Pakistan’s condemnation of the act, noting that the Foreign Office had issued a statement and the Deputy Prime Minister had released a formal condemnation. Sharif also announced that a special prayer for Haniyeh would be held after Friday prayers. He will personally lead the prayer at the Prime Minister House mosque. He expressed his deep concern over the ongoing devastation in Palestine and called for the world to wake up to the situation. Addressing the power crisis, Sharif highlighted the achievements of the previous government under Nawaz Sharif, claiming that the 20-hour load shedding prevalent at the time was eliminated.

He credited China’s support in resolving the crisis, stating that China was the only country to provide investment under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Sharif emphasized that the government was working tirelessly to resolve the power crisis, citing the construction of four state-of-the-art LNG power plants with a capacity of 5,000 megawatts. He pointed out that these plants were built at a significantly lower cost than previous projects, making them the cheapest in history. He attributed the lack of private sector investment in the power sector to the low tariffs, arguing that the government had to step in to address the issue. He urged against criticizing past agreements, stating that the government was focused on solving the problem, not playing politics. Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to reducing electricity prices, calling it the agenda of both himself and Nawaz Sharif.

He urged for an end to politicizing the issue, stating that it was an insult to the public and a national demand. He criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, questioning their achievements during their 10-year tenure. He challenged them to explain their progress in building dams, despite their promises to construct 300. He also questioned their investment in hydropower projects. Sharif highlighted the government’s efforts to address the issue, including a 70 billion rupee project in Balochistan. He accused the protesters of engaging in “politics for the sake of politics” for not raising their voices on this project. He praised the efforts made during the caretaker government to curb electricity theft, acknowledging the role of the army chief in this initiative. He concluded by stating that the government was fully aware of the public’s struggles and was working diligently to address them.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan