PM Nawaz Sharif challenges opponents to compete in politics

Lahore : Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz  Sharif Friday challenged his political opponents to compete the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) in politics, advising them to desist from hatching conspiracies and indulging in such other practices.

“You repeatedly faced electoral defeats from PML-N, and we will continue to defeat you. You cannot win elections, but only conspire,” he said while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the first unit of 1,230 MW Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant here in district Jhang.

Without naming any political party, the prime minister continued, “Since you don’t have the power to win elections, you just conspire either in the garb of `dharnas’ or in the name of accountability.”

“Then you hide yourselves behind the JIT. It is cowardice. Instead, you should come and compete in politics,” he said, adding, “The nation knows about our positive work and contribution, and nation also knows well about what you have been doing for the last four years.”

The prime minister said his government would continue pursue its agenda of development and the service of people.

 The prime minister referred to the situation of political ‘uncertainty’ and ‘instability’ and said it also hit the country’s stock market over the past few days and affected the value of rupee against US dollar.

He, however, added that as his government had a strong determination to move ahead and serve the people, and would not be deterred by the hue and cry being made by our political opponents.

The prime minister said even on July 10, the day when the JIT would present its report, he would perform the ground- breaking of a mega Dasu Hydropower Project, having a capacity of generating 4,500 mega-watts of electricity.

Similarly, he said, Diamer Bhasha Dam was also in the preparation phase, and after completion, it would not only generate 4,500 mega-watts of electricity but would serve as a huge water reservoir to irrigate our agricultural lands.

Speaking about Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant, the prime minister said the project was completed in historic 21 months time, adding, a new trend had been created in the country where mega projects were being completed in shortest possible time.  He said with dozens of power projects launched by the present   government, it had succeeded in adding 7,000 MW of electricity to the national grid so far.

The prime minister said it was not a normal thing that lights were coming back to the country and eliminating the darkness created due to the criminal negligence of past regimes including a dictator.

The prime minister said it was their promise and commitment to remove darkness from the country, and “we have fulfilled this commitment to a large extent.”

“We will Insha Allah completely eliminate loadshedding from the country”, he said.

He said, “Our political opponents are not happy over it, as Pakistan is growing and achieving the heights of development, darkness is ending, roads and motorways are being constructed.”

Nawaz Sharif referred to various already completed and on-going four and six lanes highways and motorways projects including Peshawar-Karachi, Gawadar-Khunjrab, Faisalabad- Multan, Multan-Sukkur, Sukkur-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Karachi etc. and said these were revolutionary projects.

Similarly, he said tourism sector was getting boost in the country particularly in the hilly areas of Gilgit Baltistan, KP and Azad Kashmir, which were flocked by tourists, creating huge opportunities of income for local populace.

He said with the GDP growth crossing 5% during the previous fiscal year due to enhanced industrial and agricultural activities, the economy was improving and bringing in prosperity.

The purchasing power of masses over the last four years had increased, he added.

The prime minister also mentioned the saving of huge Rs168 billion in the installation of three power projects including Haveli Bahadur Shah, Bhikki and Ballo Ki and said this amount would be spent on other development projects.

He lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and others in the early completion of Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Project, adding it was producing electricity on a cheaper Rs6.42 per unit as against the past projects.

The prime minister also mentioned the Sahiwal Coal Power Project and said it had added 1,320 MW of electricity to the national grid. He said the time was not far away when Pakistan would be included in the list of developed countries.