Daily Times

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that tremendous work has been done during the last four years under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resolve the energy crisis.

“Due to the political acumen and untiring efforts of the prime minister, energy crisis is about to end from the country,” he said while addressing a gathering of senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers and notables from the walled city on Monday.

The chief minister said that $36 billion investment had been made in different energy projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“During the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Pakistan in April 2015, different energy projects were signed. Out of these projects, some projects have been completed, while rest of them are about to be completed soon.”

He said that the government would fulfil its promise to end load shedding in the country be the next year.

He said that 1,200MW Bhikki Power Plant had been inaugurated; while the gas power projects in Balloki and Haveli Bahadur Shah were near to completion. He said that China had proved its friendship by investing $36 billion in energy projects and observed that China was the most trusted friend of Pakistan.

In a veiled reference to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the chief minister said that some elements tried to disrupt the development process by staging protests and sit-ins. He, however, said that the nation had rejected the politics of sit-ins.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has appreciated the chief minister for speed development of Lahore and other districts of the province.

He heaped praise on the chief minister for his keen interest in the development process. While addressing the gathering of senior workers of PML-N, the prime minister said that Shahbaz Sharif had got completed development projects with commitment and passion.

“There is no doubt that the credit of unique development of the province goes to Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.” The prime minister said that exemplary work had been done to complete the development projects in a record period of time under the supervision of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The prime minister said that the Orange Line Metro Train would usher in a new era of development. “This is the best service of Shahbaz Sharif for the people of the province,” he said.

Separately, the chief minister has expressed deep sense of sorrow and grief over the death of wife of Agha Shorish Kashmiri, a renowned poet and writer.

In a condolence message, the chief minister prayed that may Allah Almighty rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage and strength to the bereaved family to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.