Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Sunday claimed that the ongoing energy crisis was the results of plundering of the corrupt rulers. He said this while presiding over a meeting of Energy Implementation Committee.
Shahbaz said that steps were needed to be taken on emergent basis for overcoming the energy crisis but the non-seriousness of the rulers was worsening it.
He said that non-implementation on the decisions of equal load shedding throughout the country taken in the energy conference was lamentable. He warned that the injustice being meted out to Punjab regarding load shedding would not be tolerated. He called for equal load shedding throughout the country and other decisions of the energy conference should be implemented fully. He disclosed that a joint meeting of chambers of commerce & industries, trade and agriculture has been convened on Tuesday in which traders, industrialists and elected representatives of districts affected by load shedding will participate.
The meeting reviewed the implementation on the decisions of energy conference. It expressed concern over non-implementation of the decisions of energy conference regarding equal load shedding all over the country.
The chief minister said the energy crisis has not only caused an irreparable loss to the country's economy but also made the life of the masses miserable. He said had an appropriate strategy been evolved for overcoming the energy crisis, the country would not have been plunged into darkness today.
He said that there was a need of paying attention to the projects of electricity generation through cheap sources. He said that the projects of generating energy through coal, hydel, solar, bagasse and other sources should be executed speedily. He said that Punjab government is also working on the projects of generating energy through alternative sources. The Chief Minister said that a policy has also been evolved in consultation with sugar mills owners for generating energy through bagasse. He directed Secretary Energy to prepare a joint presentation regarding mines and energy within three days and the programme of provision of subsidy on solar tube-wells should also be implemented speedily for facilitating the farmers.
He said that the outstanding electricity dues against Punjab will be paid as per promise within one and a half months.
Members National Assembly Khurram Dastagir Khan, Pervaiz Malik, Vice Chairman Punjab Investment Board, Secretary Energy, Vice President Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
Earlier, Secretary Energy Jehanzeb Khan informed about the pace of implementation on the decisions of energy conference.