Govt not afraid of long march: Gilani

Wednesday, 30 May 2012 10:15

Posted by Imaduddin

456

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said that the Speaker’s ruling in the contempt of court case could not be challenged.

Talking to media after inaugurating the country’s first On-grid Solar Electricity Generation System here, Gilani said few hands could not be allowed to make the parliament hostage. “PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI chief Imran Khan are not the members of the Parliament and the government is not afraid of the long march threats being hurled by them,” he added.

Gilani was of the view that moving court against the Speaker’s ruling was not good for the Parliament.

In reply to a question about providing relief to the common man in the budget, the Prime Minister said that relief would be provided as per availability of resources.

He said that people were not taking the PML-N threats of long march seriously because they knew the party’s reality. The PM said that decision about the NATO supply routes would be taken in the national interest in light of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS).

Earlier, speaking at the inauguration ceremony of On-Grid Solar Power Generation System, Gilani said the initiative undertaken by Pakistan Engineering Council had been implemented with the financial assistance of Japan.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan was rich in natural resources, and the government, realising the country’s growing requirements, had initiated several energy projects, tapping not only conventional but also renewable energy sources including wind, solar and biomass.

He said the identified potential of power generation from wind was about 43,000 MW whereas solar was much more than 100,000 MW. With climate change and melting of glaciers, the harnessing of renewable energy resources had also been given priority, he added.

The Prime Minister said that an efficient and well-planned energy mix would certainly help alleviate the current energy crisis as well as meet the future requirements.

He said the present government was working to facilitate the investors and making reforms in renewable energy sector. He also appreciated the efforts of PEC for implementing the first project of its kind. This successful initiative shall lead to several other similar projects in potential areas of solar energy in the country, he added.

The Prime Minister invited strategic partners and donors for their active role in renewable energy sector.

Gilani also announced a five-tier service structure and time scale promotions for the engineers throughout the country and directed all concerned to ensure implementation of the laid down policy for appointment of engineers on the technical posts. He assured the placement of qualified engineers as Head of Engineering departments and institutions.

The Prime Minister said that he understood the need of establishment of an engineering academy for the professional development and capacity building of engineers and therefore directed all concerned to plan for its early realisation. Minister for Science and Technology Changez Khan Jamali also spoke on the occasion.