Time has come to change destiny of the nation: Shahbaz Sharif

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that time has come to change destiny of the nation and the country. He said that let us all forget our differences and unite, stop allegations, make service of the people our motto, start the process of building of the nation and the country through honesty, hard work and determination and write a new bright chapter of development and prosperity of the country, the dream of which is being seen by 20 crores people of Pakistan. He said that this is time to change darkness with light and by collective effort and wisdom we should move forward in this regard.

He was addressing a function regarding inauguration of construction work of main power building of 1320 megawatt coal power plants in Sahiwal today.

Earlier, the Chief Minister pressed the button to start construction work of the main power building of 1320 megawatt coal power plants in Sahiwal. Prayer was also offered for the solidarity, stability and progress and prosperity of the country.

Chairman Ruyi Group, Qiu Yafu, President Hauneng Shandong power company, Wang Wenzong, Chinese investors, Chinese diplomats, Chinese Consul General Yu Boren, Minister of State for Water & Power Abid Sher Ali, Provincial Ministers, Members Assembly, senior officials and administrative officers were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Minister said that today is an auspicious day and a glorious day with regard to eliminating the shortage of electricity in the country as construction work of main power building of coal power plants in Qadirabad, Sahiwal is being inaugurated and 1320 megawatts electricity through coal will be obtained from these plants. He said that these power plants are the first and the biggest project of generation of power from coal in Pakistan for which Chinese companies have made investment. He said that investment of China in Pakistan is not merely investment but a splendid gift for Pakistan and the people of Pakistan cannot forget this great favour of China.

He said that work has been started expeditiously on 1320 megawatt project in Sahiwal two and half months after the visit of Chinese President and such a moment has never been seen in the history of Pakistan when work has been started so speedily for the implementation of a project. He said there is no doubt that Pak-China friendship is higher than Himalayas, deeper than ocean, sweeter than honey and stronger than steel. He said that Sahiwal coal power projects are proof of this fact.

Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that when Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif came into power the issue of energy was very serious. He said that Prime Minister worked very hard for the solution of this issue with the help of China and during the visit of Chinese President to Pakistan, China Pakistan Economic Corridor package of 43 billion dollar package was announced out of which 33 billion dollars is the Chinese investment for energy projects and does not include loan of even a single penny.

He said that China could leave Pakistan and make investment in those countries where situation is very conducive for investment but it selected Pakistan which is a friend of China and we are deeply thankful to China. He said that Sahiwal coal power projects is the first drop of rain with regard to CPEC which will give energy and light to the country and darkness will be removed. He said that China could make this investment in some other country but the historic economic package of China is reflective of the confidence of Chinese President, Prime Minister and their leadership in the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and deep love for 20 crore people of Pakistan.

Referring to terrorism, Shahbaz Sharif said that besides shortage of energy, elimination of terrorism is another big challenge but due to bold decision of political and military leadership this menace is being controlled and Pak army has rendered supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism. He said that Pak army, police, concerned institutions and provincial governments have shown splendid performance in the war against terrorism due to which positive results are being witnessed.

He said that terrorism will be defeated while energy crisis will be overcome, darkness will be removed from the country, industrial sector will strengthen, factories will start running, jobs will be created, poverty will be eliminated, Pakistan will achieve its goal and this is the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif upon which work has been started. He said that 43 billion dollars economic package by China includes 33 billion dollars coal, solar, hydle and other projects of power generation through alternative sources.

He said that under CPEC work is in progress speedily on power houses of hundreds of megawatts electricity through solar energy in Bahwalpur.  Similarly, work is also work is also being carried out speedily on energy projects in Baluchistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Sindh and Northern Areas. He said that investment by China in Pakistan is a big gift for which the whole Pakistani nation is thankful to China. Referring to the sit-ins last year, Shehbaz Sharif said that the evil game played in the garb of sit-ins last year is now a part of history and the way economy was destroyed through sit ins, the impact of this will be faced by the economy for a number of years. He said that in the garb of sit-ins a brutal game was played with the destiny of people of Pakistan.

He said that all work was jammed, our friends returned and so much lies were told that the difference between truth and lies was eliminated. He said that the projects faced extraordinary delay. He said that the nation knows that the conspiracy of sit-ins was hatched much earlier and their meeting was held in London and the cruelty shown to the country and the nation till December cannot be forgotten. He said that these nine months were very difficult for the country and the nation and evil game was played with the country. He said that an unpardonable crime was committed to the destiny of the nation which 20 crore people of the country will never forgive.

He said that due to sit-ins a number of projects were undermined temporarily and such sad incidents happened which were highly tragic. He said that now there is no need to live in the past and it is time to work hard with a new spirit to take the country forward.

The Chief Minister said that for service of people all should forget their differences as it is time to change the destiny of the masses. He said that the plants which are being set up in Sahiwal for the generation of electricity are most modern and environment friendly and come up to the standard of environment.

The Chief Minister said that now when China is making investment in Pakistan where are those big investors of Pakistan who earned billions and trillions of rupees, got their loans waived of, looted funds of the nation, constructed palaces, purchased planes and helicopters and now when poor people of Pakistan need them these investors are not ready to invest even a single penny. He said that this is big crime with the nation which the nation will never forget.

He said that where are Pakistani investors when the nation needs them. He said that today Pakistani investors have vanished and if rich investors did not perform their national responsibility the nation will grab their wealth. He said that Pakistani investors should come forward for the people and make investment in Pakistan, set up energy projects and it is a test and a challenge for rich investors. He said that nation will ask them where were they when the nation was facing difficult time and the money that is of no benefit to the country will be grabbed by the people.

The Chief Minister said that the glorious chapter of progress and development of Pakistan which is being started today with the cooperation of China will be taken to its destination and if any one tried to create hurdles people will break his hands. He said that agreements have been signed with Chinese companies and 1320 megawatt coal power projects will start generating electricity from 25 December 2017 however, informally the Chinese companies have assured that the project will be completed by September 2017. He said that no other project has been completed so speedily in Pakistan.

The Chief Minister thanked Chinese President, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Chinese ambassador, Chairman NDRC, Chinese Consul General, senior authorities of Chinese companies as well as Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Federal Ministers Kh. Asif, Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Kh. Saad Rafique and authorities of other federal and provincial institutions for playing their role for furthering these projects.