Loadshedding damaged Pakistan more than terrorism:Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has said that if the government of PML-N came into power under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, the country would again be put on the road to progress and its conditions can be changed. He said that if Ali Baba Forty thieves become sincere, the crisis of energy can be resolved at the earliest. He said that the corruption, greed and incapability of Ali Baba and Forty Thieves are the causes of crisis of loadshedding. He said that loadshedding is worse than the terrorism due to which the GDP of Pakistan is decreasing day by day and Pakistan is facing worst economic situation.

He was addressing the 25th Achievement Award Ceremony of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry at Convention Center Islamabad today. President, Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Javed Akhtar Bhatti besides Members of National Assembly, Malik Pervez, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Malik Ibrar, Malik Shakeel Awan, Begum Tahira Aurangzeb, Advisor to CM Punjab, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, MPAs, Raja Hanif Advocate, Shehryar Riaz, Ziaullah Shah, Ch. Ayyaz, Malik Iftikhar, diplomats in Islamabad and a large number of office bearers and workers of Chamber of Commerce and Industry were also present on this occasion.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that worst injustice has been committed with Punjab with regard to loadshedding. He said that the crisis of electricity has become serious throughout the country, agriculture of Punjab has become barren and industry is facing serious problems. He said that the people of the province including Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan cannot sleep during night due to loadshedding and small businessmen and workers are facing problems due to closure of industries and are unable to earn their livelihood. The Chief Minister said that he did not leave the masses alone during the flood of 2010 and the worst dengue crisis in the history of the country last year. The Chief Minister said that the crisis of loadshedding is due to the circular debt of 500 billion rupees and federal government did not make any effort to overcome it. He said that in addition to Punjab, about Rs. 300 billion are outstanding against other provinces and government institutions and if this amount is recovered, then four thousand megawatt can be included in electricity and crisis can be solved considerably. He said that a nation which is 7th atomic power of the world is facing electricity crisis and economic bankruptcy whose doctors, engineers, educationists and workers have proved their worth in Europe, Middle East and every region of the world. He said that economy of Pakistan is running through 12 billion dollars being sent by the overseas Pakistanis and total exports of this country are 25 billion dollars. He said that there is no need to afraid of this situation and through commitment and determination, situation can be improved within a short period. He said that instead of Ali Baba and 40 Thieves, if there was such a government in center which constructed motorway in the decade of 1990, freed the economy and took the measures for development, conducted nuclear tests without caring for any external pressure, then situation can be changed. He said that instead of speeches, we will have to practically work hard. He paid tributes to members of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, traders, industrialists, commercial institutions, exporters, services providing institutions and educators for showing good business performance in difficult economic conditions and congratulated the award winners.

The Chief Minister on this occasion gave approval in principle to the setting up of modern industrial estate in Rawalpindi and directed commissioner Rawalpindi to select land through assembly members and office-bearers of Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He announced that establishment of trauma center in Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology will also be considered. Earlier, President Chamber of Commerce and Industry Rawalpindi Javed Akhtar Bhatti while presenting his welcome address, demanded setting up of Trauma center, modern industrial estate and more parking plazas in Rawalpindi.