Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said the government was undertaking both long and short term measures to resolve the serious issue of energy shortage and had allowed provinces to build their own power houses, to meet the shortfall.
He was addressing a public meeting here after performing the groundbreaking ceremony of over Rs 1.5 billion Khushhalgarh Bridge to connect Punjab with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over River Indus. The prime minister appreciated the announcement of a hydel power project by the provincial government. He acknowledged the shortage of power in the country and said some effective measures were being taken to address the issue.
He said the federation had asked the provinces to set up power generating units on their own and expressed the hope that it would help to overcome the growing power demand, besides creating employment. He said the government has increased power generation by 1000MWs annually, since it came into power and hoped increased capacity would benefit the national industry.
The prime minister said that that eight percent of country''s gas and petroleum needs were being met from this area and hoped the bridge would help increase transportation of petroleum products, and goods and services. He said construction of the bridge at Kund was a long standing demand of the people and it would lessen distance by 80kms to the southern districts of KPK and Fata from Punjab, and provide alternative routes.
The prime minister lauded the people of the province for rendering innumerable sacrifices in their fight against extremism and terrorism and for protecting the country against such elements who were bent upon damaging the country. He saluted the people of the province for their courage and determination to root out extremism.
Prime Minister Gilani assured the people that the government would utilise all its resources for rebuilding of the infrastructure that has been damaged due to the unprecedented floods and vowed to build it better. He said the province had been provided unprecedented funds and an era of development and prosperity has ushered in. He said under the National Finance Commission Award, the KPK province has been given huge funds for development.
He said the opponents of the government were making false claims of doing the impossible, but said the people had seen them in the past and know the reality. He said the government with the help of the people would transform the country and bring all amenities of life to the under developed areas.
He said all these measures had unnerved the opponents of the government who were levelling baseless allegations against the government, just to get more seats in the Senate. He said the current government came into power with the votes of the people and said he was proud to be the first unanimously elected prime minister of the country.
He said he sought guidance from the vision of Shaheeds Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He said in the remaining last two years of government''s tenure, new mega projects would be launched with the co-operation of the provinces and the federation to generate employment and speed up the pace of development. He also announced provision of natural gas at Tall, to meet the long standing demand of the people.
The prime minister said the Pakistan wants friendly and cordial relations with all neighbours including Afghanistan, India and Iran, which is imperative for the socio-economic development of region. He said the resources would be spent on the development of masses. He said Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had empowered people and the government is committed to bring revolution through collective efforts with public support.
He said the present government has given identity to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while NFC Award and provincial autonomy to provinces was the big achievement of the present regime. Gilani said that provincial autonomy was the major demand of the small provinces and the government has fulfilled it.
Paying glowing tributes to people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and law enforcement agencies for their brave resolve and sacrifices in fight against terrorism and militancy, the prime minister said such example could hardly be found in the world''s history. The sacrifices by the people and the security forces today have saved the future of the country. The government committed to enhancement of the capacity building of the security forces of KPK.
He assured the people that the natural resources explored would be given to the local community falling within five kilometres radius on priority basis and urged them to avoid creating hurdles in smooth exploration of the facility. The people of Kohat played key role in the creation of Pakistan and "we do expect the same role in bigger perspective in the stability of Pakistan".
Khushalgarh Bridge will give boom to the economic activity in the KPK, Fata and Punjab being located at the confluence of the KPK-Punjab provinces. The function was addressed among others by Governor KPK Barrister Masood Kausar, Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Minister Dr Arbab Alamgir, Senator Abbas Afridi, and MNA Pir Dilawar Shah. Tribal elder Shamim Afridi on behalf of the people of Kohat presented traditional turban to the Prime Minister while Provincial Minister Amjad Afridi gifted carpet.
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