HAVELI BAHADUR SHAH: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday advised his political rivals to desist from hatching conspiracies against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), challenging them to instead compete the ruling league in politics. “You repeatedly faced electoral defeats from PML-N, and we will continue to defeat you. You cannot win elections, but only conspire,” he said while addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the first unit of 1,230 MW Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant in district Jhang. In a thinly veiled jibe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the prime minister said, “Since you don’t have the power to win elections, you just conspire either in the garb of dharnas or in the name of accountability.” “Then you hide yourselves behind the JIT. It is cowardice. Instead, you should come and compete in politics,” he said, adding, “The nation knows about our positive work and contribution … and nation also knows well about what you have been doing for the last four years.” “Do you know about the JIT,” premier asked those in attendance at the gatehring. “You also probably know what it has been doing.” The country, he added, has been experiencing political uncertainty and the stock exchange is also reflecting it. “We want to let those who are becoming a hurdle in our path know that we will not be restrained and shall continue executing development projects.” Highways and motorways, Nawaz said, are being built across the country. “Our rivals are annoyed at this development. Those impending growth in this country need to be held accountable,” he said, and added, “PML-N is ready to compete with you at any given time.” A day earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told journalists accompanying him on his two- day visit to Tajikistan that the nation had given him the mandate for a full five-year term, had faith in him and firmly believed in his development-oriented policies. When asked about the ongoing questioning by the joint investigation team (JIT) of his family members, the Prime Minister had said, “There is nothing to fear as our hands are clean.” “What are the allegations against me? Have I looted the national exchequer? Have I done some corruption or got kickbacks?” he questioned. The prime minister told the gathering that his government would continue pursue its agenda of development and the service of people. He said Pakistan will continue to progress on the path to prosperity, and that he will lay the foundation stone of 4,500MW Dasu power plant on Monday, the day JIT investigating Panama Papers leaks is due to submit its report to the Supreme Court. “Pakistan is about to completely get rid of darkness as the government honours its promises,” he told the gathering. The project with a total production capacity of 1,230MW is a Combined Cycle Power Plant. It is fueled by LNG, and has been completed in 21 months. The prime minister also visited the control room and witnessed the plant and its functioning. He was informed about the plant whose first unit had been made operational in a record period of only 21 months, including completion of civil works, construction of switchyard, cooling towers, fuel storage tanks and installation of gas turbine and generators. He was informed that the installed unit was world’s most efficient and modern with guaranteed efficiency of 62.44% on LNG. A saving of Rs 57 billion had been achieved in the project cost as compared to the upfront tariff given by NEPRA, owing to a transparent procurement process through international competitive bidding and PPRA laws. The prime minister was informed that the award of engineering procurement contract (EPC) for the project led to one of the lowest EPC cost per megawatt resulting in an annual saving of Rs 2 billion through optimum operations and management cost. The project would be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 55 billion. Published in Daily Times, July 8th , 2017.