Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed earlier yesterday that transparency and efficiency, being the hallmark of his government, were helping it to save billions of rupees. He said that in just three power projects the government had saved as much as Rs570 billion.
Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1,230MW power plant in Haveli Bahadur Shah near Jhang, he said the inflation rate in the country was at its lowest today and exchange reserves were at their highest.
He said that after coming to power his government faced the challenges of deteriorating economy, terrorism and over 16 hours of loadshedding. But now, he added, economic indicators were good, loadshedding had been reduced by half and the terrorists were on the run.
He said he was pleased to be part of the ceremony because his dream of ending loadshedding would soon turn into reality.
Punjab Governor Malik Rafiq Rajwana, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, federal Minister for National Food Security Sikandar Bosan, Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali and Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong attended the ceremony.
He said that foreign investors were returning to Pakistan with new projects because situation in Karachi and other parts of the country had improved considerably.
Mr Sharif rejected claims that the government had been unable to make any significant progress and mentioned various development projects. New power projects are in different phases of completion across the country. In a few years these will start adding electricity to the national grid.
He said major roads, highways and motorways projects were under way. These will link different parts of the country and will also connect the country with Central Asian Republics, China and the Middle East.
According to him, the Combined Cycle Power Project in Haveli Bahadur Shah will be one of the lowest costing plants. The project was estimated to cost Rs93 billion which has been reduced to Rs57 billion. He said that in three other projects using Liquefied Natural Gas, the country would be saving Rs110 billion. Keeping in view the 30-year life of the project the total savings would be of Rs570 billion. He said 3,600MW of electricity would be generated by LNG power plants.
The prime minister said the Islamabad High Court had restored the Kisaan Package which would greatly benefit the farming community. Under the package, the price of DAP would be cut by Rs500, NitroPhos by Rs218 and urea by Rs150. There will be special packages also for small farmers owning 12.5 acres of land.
The prime minister said a pipeline being laid in ports in southern parts of the country would provide gas to power plants in northern and central parts.
