Terming Pakistan People's Party's advertisement campaign regarding electricity load shedding as 'pack of lies', former Chief Minister Punjab and PML-N senior leader Shahbaz Sharif held the previous PPP government responsible for prevailing energy crisis in Pakistan.
"The power crisis in the country is on account of electricity theft, circular debt of Rs 500 billion and the massive corruption carried out in rental power projects during the last PPP regime," Shahbaz said this, while addressing a press conference here on Friday. The PML-N leader maintained that massive corruption and poor performance of the PPP government pushed the country towards darkness. Not only people are suffering but also industries are closed and country is facing manifold challenges on different fronts, he added.
He said the PPP had laid foundations of the worst power load shedding in 1994 when as many as 70 MoUs were signed in just three months and preference was given to thermal electricity generation instead of hydro-power generation. To a query, Shahbaz said the PML-N government in the past had never quashed any project of electricity generation; however, expensive projects were reviewed that resulted in saving of US $6 billion. He said there was annual power pilferage of around three hundred billions of rupees and if voted to power, they would eliminate this menace and also take effective steps to expedite recovery of outstanding dues and phased wise eradication of power load shedding in 2-3 years.
He further said that transparency is the hallmark of the PML-N and all the advertisements of the PPP in this regard are devoid of facts. He slammed the elements that are raising finger on the PML-N-led Punjab government regarding power load shedding. He said it was the PML-N led Punjab government, which started small projects of 50 MW each for producing electricity through coal while the Federal Government turned down the proposal of generating electricity through baggase. He said the PML-N government also initiated solar project for producing 400 MW electricity generation through a German company.
He said during PPP's regime, energy crisis continues to worsen and become an impediment to our economic development and is causing unbearable suffering to the common man. He said because of poor governance and inability to improve the efficiency of the energy sector by the PPP regime, the losses have actually increased and the energy crisis has become more serious. "Production, transmission and distribution losses have increased and the distribution companies have been unable to recover their full dues (arrears estimated at Rs 499 billion in 2012) or reduce theft of electricity. This has led to a chronic so-called 'circular debt problem' of Rs 500 billion in 2012," he added.
Shahbaz further said the PPP government has not been able to modernise existing thermal units to improve their generating capacity, which was possible at relatively low cost. "Instead, it opted for several high cost rental power projects to add very expensive electricity to the system. There has been virtually no progress in attracting investment in the energy sector, especially in hydro or coal based projects to correct the fuel mix," he added.
He said the PML-N has a clear energy vision to ensure that gas and electricity can be supplied to all urban and rural consumers continuously at an affordable price. "We will also ensure that energy resources are allocated through regulated market forces and not for personal financial gains of the powerful. Large-scale investment in the energy sector can create thousands of new jobs and contribute to social, educational, economic and industrial development. This multi-dimensional energy crisis will require effective and sustainable solutions through short-term measures and medium-term plans, which must be undertaken in a co-ordinated manner," he added.
Shahbaz further said: "Today 'captain of Zardari's B team' Imran Khan is giving a clean chit to President Asif Zardari by blaming Punjab government for power crisis. Why Imran is not raising voice over indifferent attitude of the previous PPP regime regarding Chichoki Malian and Nandipur 950MW power projects, which are lying abundant due to the PPP's indifferent attitude. The machinery of both the plants is being rusted at Karachi port. Imran must tell as to why the PPP government had not given go ahead on generating 2000 MW through baggase," he said.
He further Asif Zardari, Imran Khan and PMLQ are trying to divide the vote bank of the PML-N but people would foil their designs by voting the PML-N candidates on May 11. Politically conscious people would expose the elements that are making just claims and levelling allegations.