Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday reiterated government's resolve to end the prevailing power crisis, saying overcoming the present energy crisis is top priority of the government.
"World community and the US should help Pakistan in developing the power sector", Prime Minister said while talking to David Lipton, Senior Director for International Economics in National Security Council of the US, who called on him at Prime Minister's House here on Friday. Prime Minister Gilani said that the government will not raise power tariff as people of Pakistan are suffering due to shortage of electricity.
He urged international community especially the US to help Pakistan in reducing the circular debts, which has badly affected the power sector. He further emphasised the international community to help Pakistan improve cash flow for the power generating companies.
Prime Minister said that the government had devised short, medium and long term plans to address the crisis. Gilani underscored the need of better understanding by outside world regarding energy situation in Pakistan. He apprised Lipton of salient features of energy plan. Lipton acknowledged that there was a consensus across the political divide in Pakistan on immediate steps to resolve the energy crisis.
He assured the Prime Minister that the US government was fully aware of Pakistan's difficulties and wanted to help solve the problem. His second visit to Pakistan meant to consult all the stakeholders in power sector and understand Pakistan's priorities to better utilise US assistance.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Gilani said the government was taking all political forces on board regarding national issues so as to adopt a consensus approach to deal with the challenges being faced by the country. He was talking to federal ministers Shahid Hussain Bhutto, Shahbaz Bhatti, Atta-ur-Rahman, Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi, Minister of State for Interior Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi, Parliamentary Secretary for Cabinet and Establishment Divisions Mrs Farhat Khan and MNA Nawab Liaquat, who called on him separately. Gilani said the government was taking steps for ensuring transparency, accountability and rule of law at all levels.
He said the government was taking steps for maintaining the prices of essential food items within the reach of common man and added that provincial governments had been directed to take strict action against hoarders and profiteers. The Ministers briefed the Prime Minister about the working of their ministries and pace of development programmes in their constituencies.