Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has said that the time has come to take account of the people who have looted the masses on the name of democracy.
He held the Federation responsible for power crisis in the province, saying failure to supply electricity to the Punjab was a clear manifestation of the Federation’s criminal negligence and ineligibility.
Talking to media after presiding over a meeting of the provincial cabinet here at a camp office set up near Minar-e-Pakistan, Shahbaz Sharif said the power crisis could immediately be resolved by paying off Rs4 billion to the oil companies.
He ordered the members of provincial cabinet and other high-ranking officials to perform their duties by setting up camps outside their offices, and to avoid using air-conditions.
“The Federation is treating Punjab with discrimination on the matter of power supply,” Shahbaz Sharif reiterated his regret, adding the 18th amendment had given nothing to the provinces. He said that all the institutions are being affected in the result of the energy crisis. He said that the federal government has totally failed to solve the problems of the masses.
He said that the energy crisis can be controlled by paying Rs 400 billion circular debts.
Shahbaz Sharif said Punjab shared only Rs 4 billion in Rs 400 billion circular debt while the federal government was responsible for the remaining debt.
He said that the federal government has done injustice to Punjab by not implementing the decisions unanimously taken in the energy conference and depriving Punjab of 700 MW electricity.
Shahbaz said the federal government was wrongly propagating that the provinces could generate electricity while federal government’s guaranty was compulsory for initiation of any power project in the province.
He said the situation would have been different if Punjab was allowed to generate electricity as the Punjab government has track record of completing several mega projects within few months.
Replying a question he said that there is no reality in the news that the electricity for the camp office is taken from the Kunda system, adding that the electricity is being taken from the parks and horticulture authority, which is the institution of the Punjab government, adding that the bill of governments share will be paid by the Punjab government.
Shahbaz Sharif concluded that the energy crisis cost a loss of Rs 90 billion to the economy of Punjab.
The Punjab CM added that the protest camp would be continued till end to power cut and just distribution of electricity while all provincial ministers and advisors would also conduct their daily work in protest camps outside their offices.
The cabinet members along with the chief minister tied black ribbons on their arms to symbolically protest against the federal government for failing to control the energy crisis in the country. Secretary Interior Punjab briefed the cabined on law and order situation in the province.
The provincial cabinet discussed Punjab Budget 2012-13 and strategy to provide relief to common masses regarding energy crisis.
Later on, provincial advisors and other MPAs held an open kutchery on the directive of Shahbaz Sharif. They listened to the grievances of the people coming from different parts of the province and issued orders for their redressal. SANA
