Protesting parties limiting country's development, says PM Nawaz

Published September 17, 2014
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. — File photo
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. — File photo

ATTOCK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said that protesting parties are creating impediments in the way of development of the country.

Inaugurating a well of Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) at Soghri, Attock, he said Chinese president Xi Jinping had to visit Pakistan to sign a number of agreements, especially on electricity production, but that his trip was postponed due to the acts of a few thousand protesters.

He said the government has demonstrated patience and tolerance in the current political crisis. "It is not difficult to get roads cleared from protesters," he said. Nawaz added that the protesting parties should also demonstrate the same spirit and refrain from creating obstacles in the country's development as the entire nation wants improvement.

The postponement of the official visit of the Chinese president has disappointed the Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET), which was hoping to get funds for different projects after inaugurating the first solar tubewell of the federal capital during his visit.

Also read: Postponement of Chinese president’s visit disappoints energy council

China had also announced $32 billion to be invested in next seven years in various Pakistani projects of infrastructure building and power sector.

Regarding the energy crisis in the country, the premier said the government is giving foremost priority to elimination of load shedding from the country.

"We have chalked out programs which will end load shedding in the next three to four years. He pointed out that the elimination of load shedding is necessary in order to promote industrial growth and alleviate poverty and unemployment."

Separately, Nawaz said he had been elected by 180 million people and the whole Parliament stands united for continuation of the present system.

The premier has stated in unequivocal terms that he will not resign on the desire of merely a few thousand people.

About the discovery of oil and gas well in Soghri, the PM said it will help save millions of dollars in foreign exchange besides mitigating the energy crisis.

Opinion

Editorial

Football elections
17 Nov, 2024

Football elections

PAKISTAN football enters the most crucial juncture of its ‘normalisation’ era next week, when an Extraordinary...
IMF’s concern
17 Nov, 2024

IMF’s concern

ON Friday, the IMF team wrapped up its weeklong unscheduled talks on the Fund’s ongoing $7bn programme with the...
‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs
Updated 17 Nov, 2024

‘Un-Islamic’ VPNs

If curbing pornography is really the country’s foremost concern while it stumbles from one crisis to the next, there must be better ways to do so.
Agriculture tax
Updated 16 Nov, 2024

Agriculture tax

Amendments made in Punjab's agri income tax law are crucial to make the system equitable.
Genocidal violence
16 Nov, 2024

Genocidal violence

A RECENTLY released UN report confirms what many around the world already know: that Israel has been using genocidal...
Breathless Punjab
16 Nov, 2024

Breathless Punjab

PUNJAB’s smog crisis has effectively spiralled out of control, with air quality readings shattering all past...