Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said the government was taking steps to overcome power shortage with the same determination with which it achieved self-sufficiency in wheat production. Addressing National Conference on Intellectual Property Rights here, the prime minister said that 2,000 megawatts to the national power grid would be added this year, which would be equal to the electricity added last year.
He said the government was focusing on short, medium and long term measures to fulfil energy needs of Pakistan. He said he would soon lay foundation stone of Diamer Bhasha Dam and Thar Coal Project as part of efforts to rid the country of electricity crisis. He reminded that before their government came there was flour shortage. The government raised the support price of wheat to Rs 950 per 40 kg for farmers, he said adding that despite the floods last year, Pakistan produced surplus wheat and now it is able to export the commodity.
Gilani said the present problems would not have persisted if the previous government had taken steps during its nine years. Due to the policies of the government, foreign exchange reserves had risen to $17.5 billion, foreign remittances have increased to $11 billion and Karachi Stock Exchange index has crossed 12000 points, he noted.
The Prime Minister said the politicians who were in a hurry to come into government should show restraint. No party can overcome challenges of the country single handedly, he remarked. He said the political leadership of the country should work together to resolve the issues. "Politicians are not like film stars that are changed to create good films. Politicians come through a process and mature with time," he added. He assured that the government had made progress in bringing BT cotton to the country to increase per acre yield.
During visits to China and Uzbekistan, Pakistani leadership held talks on introducing new agriculture varieties in Pakistan, he added. He said the government will implement the recommendations of the conference on protecting and promoting intellectual property rights.