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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday pleaded with his opponents to continue cursing the ruling party, "but don't stall these development projects".
At the breakthrough ceremony of the right head-race tunnel of the Neelum Jhelum project, the PM lashed out at the opposition, blaming them for the power shortfall in Pakistan.
"You're well aware of who is responsible for this shortfall. They come on TV and spew hatred every day, but to sit in Islamabad and level allegations and speak lies is frustrating people now," he said.
The PM, who has been announcing development projects in various parts of the country as elections draw nearer, also delivered an unusual warning to his opponents.
"Don't keep eyes your eyes closed like a pigeon. If you keep this up, the lion is going to eat this pigeon in the upcoming elections."
The first unit of the Neelum Jhelum Hydro Power Project is slated to start electricity generation by the end of February next year, the second unit will be operational by March 2018, while the third and the fourth units will be completed by April 2018.
The premier also claimed at the occasion that Pakistan would soon add 10,000 megawatts to the grid. He did not provide a timeline for this, however.
"In the coming five to six years we will add so much power to the grid that it will equal the energy produced in the last 70 years," he claimed.
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Comments (86) Closed
May 05, 2017 04:46pm
What a silly joke?
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May 05, 2017 04:46pm
Pls stop joking.
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May 05, 2017 04:50pm
hollow men, hollow words
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May 05, 2017 04:56pm
Dear PM,
You along with your co-brother Asif Zardari, are responsible for prolong load shedding. Both have been/are ruler of this country for 30 years. Don't blame anyone. You & your own brother Shahbaz, repeatedly claimed to end load shedding in 6 months/1 year/2 years and so on.....
Now the fifth year started you have been in power and now you are blaming and still claiming to end this issue in 2018???
What is this...??? Claim after claim??? blame after blame??? lies after lies???
We are fed up now.... please stop....!
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May 05, 2017 04:56pm
The PM is feeling the heat.
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May 05, 2017 04:57pm
What happened to 6 months and two years given by both brothers? The fact remains that NS is ore worried about his seat than how the public are suffering. The shortfall of electricity will continue to well after 2020 never mind 2018, i am amazed at why no BIG effort to harness the energy created by the Sun is not taking place..
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May 05, 2017 05:00pm
I am from karachi, sitting in peshawer at the moment, the locals here are cursing PTI !
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May 05, 2017 05:01pm
again the blame..... who is in the government i ask....????
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May 05, 2017 05:05pm
Desperate Opposition of PTI & PPP, are unable to match or admire the achievements of Nawaz Sharif and his government. Worse than that they are resorting to gutter politics.
Shame on all those who cannot swallow the progress Pakistan is making - Alhamdolillah!
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May 05, 2017 05:05pm
@Muhammed Ali UK bcz its expensive almost 14rs per unit...... wind is 10-12 per unit.... coal 8-9 per unit and hydro the cheapest 5-7 per unit....
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May 05, 2017 05:10pm
Nice Try! Blame all the causes of your own failures onto IK and opposition. Did he also stop you from building a decent hospital in Lahore or Islamabad, so you don't have to fly to London for a checkup??
What a ridiculous notion.... Those cylinders exploding in Lahore, are also IK's fault??
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May 05, 2017 05:15pm
@PINK PANTHER
Would you care to mention how the PTI has impeded work on the Neelum Jhelum project, Nandipur and other power projects ?
Last time I checked there were no power projects in Islamabad.
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May 05, 2017 05:19pm
O Really......??????
Let me Laugh Please....
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May 05, 2017 05:19pm
@Falcon1
Very true when you say:
"Did he (Imran Khan) also stop you from building a decent hospital in Lahore or Islamabad, so you don't have to fly to London for a checkup??"
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May 05, 2017 05:22pm
@waqas "who is in the government i ask....????" In the government no one, but too many on government funds, i reply!!!
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May 05, 2017 05:24pm
Corruption has crippled the country, Imran has spread awareness, If there wasn't Imran in opposition, 99% of the budget would have reached foreign accounts of these PMLN leaders.
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May 05, 2017 05:30pm
@waqas Indian solar power has hit Rs4 per unit so why cant we..
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May 05, 2017 05:34pm
PM should get the Noble prize for being the champion of the blame game.Keep it up anything wrong blame others.
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May 05, 2017 05:35pm
@Bitter Truth True! People in Peshawar are not happy with PTI. A friend's father who is in IB has predicted that PTI will not be able to form government in KPK in 2018 elections, however they will manage to bag 35-45 national assembly seats in Punjab. The situation in Sindh and Balochistan will remain the same.
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May 05, 2017 05:42pm
@TROLLROLL Truth will be in the pudding, IK cannot please everyone neither can NS so lets see ground reality before we make our minds up.
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May 05, 2017 05:51pm
We have had enough of the stupid claims of the current and previous governments. Nawaz Shareef is a specialist when it comes to making tall claims which never materialize. I remember one of his speeches before 2013 elections promising a bullet train. Where is it? I wish the JIT does it's job honestly to start the process of eliminating corruption especially at the top of Pakistani government.
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May 05, 2017 05:53pm
They blamed PPP last time while they were in opposition and now they are doing the same. Nothing has changed in Pakistan.
Shame on PML-N for fooling the nation with your rhetoric.
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May 05, 2017 05:54pm
@BAXAR are u suggesting to cut funds from all provinces to help build dams.....
first maybe some people dont understand the words cpec project means.... its money given by CHINA to government to help build roads and energy projects in bilateral benefits.... its the GOVERNMENTs job to smooth implementation of projects and distribution of money... get it..
if dont then research about it....
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May 05, 2017 05:56pm
Oppositon !!! Sharam karo !!! Our innocent PM and his family are trying sooo hard to to develop Pakistan and you guys are pulling him down !!! So what if 30 to 40% of the cost of projects finds its way into overseas real estate via Panama??
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May 05, 2017 05:56pm
Blatant lies! nation still remember your brother drama at Minar-e-Pakistan. Let us be honest no one has the capacity to address issues whether it is politicians or generals because priorities are different for them.
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May 05, 2017 05:57pm
@Ali_khan : True to fact...excellent. As someone rightly said, we are stuck with "muk-muka parties"!
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May 05, 2017 05:58pm
@Muhammed Ali UK investments and corruption free implemention.... only then can we harness the power with cheapest possible sourse.... look at jinnah solar park.... research about it please
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May 05, 2017 06:00pm
Here's the thing, Mr. PM. If you are doing your job diligently, honestly and without any personal motives, than you should not fear what the opposition says. Sounds to me, your diatribes are indication of insecurity over your own incompetence and shortcomings.
The oppositions is supposed do what they are meant to do: to keep the ruling party in check and challenge when they step out of line. You cannot blame IK for everything you have failed to accomplish due to conflicts of interest or distractions due to Panama Case.
IK is doing what Zardari too has failed to do... So blame yourself for all the problems.
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May 05, 2017 06:01pm
@AMIR sarcastic review....
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May 05, 2017 06:06pm
This is new that opposition is responsible for the power shortfall. Anything else PM has in his pandora's box to cover up government incompetency and corruption?
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May 05, 2017 06:08pm
I am surprised you did not blame Imran Khan for this mess.
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May 05, 2017 06:09pm
Mr PM if after having the majority a friendly opposition/Ally in PPP you can still not get the job done, than you never will, no matter you have 100 tenures
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May 05, 2017 06:11pm
@Bitter Truth
I do not know which Peshawar are you, my family is in Peshawar and most people I talk to say things have improved in healthcare, school and police.
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May 05, 2017 06:11pm
Neelum project was announced recently. Then why blame opposition for what you have not achieved for the last 5 years.
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May 05, 2017 06:20pm
He is too dumb to say this all.
He is prime minister, the Chief executive.
If he thinks he is doing something positive and good for his country men. he should continue irrespective of opposition. His office is empowered to execute all good.
But the fact is, He is lying.
He had used the allocation for project to pay for his own defend his own corruption and personal publicity.
Health and Education were ignored and he had failed to answer the challenges and charges thrown on him by opposition and Judiciary.
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May 05, 2017 06:25pm
"PM blames opposition for power shortfall in Pakistan"
During election campaigning they say that on coming to power they will correct all mistakes by others but on coming to power they simply U turn.
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May 05, 2017 06:32pm
No shame left in govt. They were supposed to change their names for not fulfilling their promises.
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May 05, 2017 06:34pm
PML-N is fast becoming a laughing stock. Leadinh the nation into darkness.
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May 05, 2017 06:34pm
Oh please !
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May 05, 2017 06:44pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad As usual, what a silly, unsubstantiated, unintellectual, anti-punctuation law comment?
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May 05, 2017 06:54pm
PM is enjoying his very last tenure as PM making jokes and playing blame games.
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May 05, 2017 07:00pm
Not sure if pm understands accountability? You cannot blame everything on other people....take some ownership of this country and lead with an example.....well priorities are different. Not sure why we vote on promises of laptops....electricity....education....shelter....security....when 2 major parties have failed to give these things to follow countrymen
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May 05, 2017 07:02pm
This is only a financial management problem. Pakistan has enough IPPs to produce electricity on demand but alas who cares. The ruling elite has their own priorities: corruption; visible mega projects; etc.
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May 05, 2017 07:08pm
In office for more than 4 years and still blaming past governments. What a shame.
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May 05, 2017 07:17pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad "What a silly joke?"
Why the '?' Dr?? Are you asking NS to tell you a joke or making a statement??
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May 05, 2017 07:19pm
@Azhar Iqbal Oh Really, how many JIT's have given any positive results as yet??? elaborate a few Pls
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May 05, 2017 07:24pm
stop making fool of this nation
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May 05, 2017 07:24pm
obviously he doesnt give a damn about the people, he thinks they are illiterate and he can make them fool
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May 05, 2017 07:29pm
@Bitter Truth irrelevant pointless trying to run a way from the fact no one is talking about Imran at this point.
Come out of Imran phobia and look around and find out whats going around.
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May 05, 2017 07:30pm
Nawaz moved power projects forward. The projects languished when other parties ran the country.
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May 05, 2017 07:35pm
We don't only need affordable power but affordable housing, affordable healthcare, affordable food and water. Right now none I'd available to common man.
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May 05, 2017 07:40pm
You are the PM with a majority in parliament. If you are serious to do anything , no opposition can stop you.
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May 05, 2017 07:42pm
@fareed hussain - Most people in this country, indeed are illiterate, ignorant and clueless. That's his base that he can and will continue to fool, like Zardari is trying, to vote either of them back in power, based on fancy slogans, empty promises and pipe dreams of better days - that they have not been able to deliver for the last three decades between them.
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May 05, 2017 07:48pm
@Alba Nawaz did nothing and never took the nation's problems seriously. Its his third time (hopefully last time) as PM but he miserably failed in sloving even a single problem of Pakistani nation.
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May 05, 2017 08:00pm
Him and people who vote for him are responsible!
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May 05, 2017 08:11pm
This man and his family has been in power since 1980s in different capacity yet he got audacity to blame anyone else but him?
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May 05, 2017 08:24pm
Great, blaming opposition after so many years is a cop out.
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May 05, 2017 08:37pm
This man has no shame. If his house is dark , he will arrange the electricity generation in one day . A low man of highest order.
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May 05, 2017 08:50pm
'Sit in Islamabad and level allegations'- No difference, you sat in Raiwind Palace when Zardari was ruling the country and leveled allegations. What was accomplished ?
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May 05, 2017 08:55pm
Who will win the 2018 elections? PML-N or PTI or PPP?
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May 05, 2017 09:30pm
Instead of bashing NS, he was right to say why PMLN had to build mega projects and others just enjoy..... People out of hate refers 30 years of PMLN and PPP, reality is many mega projects started by PML. In the last 14- years, what was done by respective past government. ppp gave a gift of rental power and earlier IPP's with high tariff in its time. HUBCO even today is operated on take or pay after 20- years. Without bias, we should give credit that many power projects were completed or in closing stages.This NJ project was in doldrums due to lack of funds availability.. read wapda info on its website for its history.
We should be fare when criticising and give credit where due also instead of generalizing. On corruption which is favorite of all. we as individuals must be honest to our country as good citizens and pay taxes if we want to change destiny of our country. Good leaders are born when nation is honest and committed to their country either pride. If we ate rotten ourselves, angles will not come to lead us.
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May 05, 2017 10:36pm
First it was 6 months.
Then 12 months.
Then two years.
Now it is by 2018.
Anyone with a few working brain cells could have told you in 2013 that it would be impossible for complete riddance of loadshedding by 2018. It is not only about power generation but old grid and wastage.
Having been in power for four years, PMNL is gearing to shift the blame to the opposition for their failure/broken promises before 2018 elections.
Well done PMLN. This is what good politicians do.
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May 05, 2017 11:52pm
@Azhar Iqbal
He made an election promise and a feasibility report once obtained showed that Pakistani people, with their economical status can't afford it's proper running on an ongoing basis. So the project was dropped. What's there not to understand.
I have reason to believe that although such a large party is not fully honest and the best, but look around you and you will realize that only this party has the power to deliver, and that's what they have done, (though inadequately) especially in the recent past.
Others made a mess in the past and PMLN are also part of that blame. Agreed. But what this Government has done with active and brutal opposition, dharnas, negativity etc. is beyond what can be achieved in a third world country and we should look at the big picture.
When I.K. came on board, I was a fan as well but knew that only PMLN (even if bad) can deliver and I am happy I have finally started seeing results while others have just made fools out of themselves.
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May 06, 2017 12:29am
Who made Rental Power as the cornerstone of the country's Electric Power Policy and boasted about it?
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May 06, 2017 01:49am
@PINK PANTHER What part of Pakistan is making progress?
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May 06, 2017 02:06am
Nothing new, whoever so is in government will always blame others mainly oppositions for their short comings.
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May 06, 2017 02:09am
Excellent. Blame it on others.
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May 06, 2017 02:10am
Merely a lollipop which is being given to the credulous people of Pakistan again, at the end of their regime, so that they can regain the trust and get themselves reelected for the next 5 foreseeable years. Feel pity on the naivety of our poor people who would again endorse whatever he claimed in his speech rhetorically. Why every project is expected to yeild something when this incumbent government is around the corner? Why it is being ensured that load shedding will be rooted out in next six years? Everything is indicative of their cunning motives behind every promise which is invariably beyond the discernment of our people.
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May 06, 2017 02:29am
Power generation capacity is not only need to be increased to meet the demand but bigger issue/ problem is power distribution network in dire need of upgrade to minimum standards. It does not take a technical person to see jungle of overhead wires and multiple connections. Also use of aluminum wires itself is cause of tremendous line loss. And, revenue collection and meter reading cheat is another huge problem.
Engineers and finance experts should do their part to put up proposals and make people aware of real issues. Only than people will able to tell who is saying truth and who is selling them snake oil.
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May 06, 2017 03:09am
If it wasn't for opposition hindering tactics, NS would have taken Pakistan out of darkness during his 6 months term, as he had promised during elections campaign. Dear opposition, please let NS and Ishaq Dar do their JOB
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May 06, 2017 03:25am
I agree with ns. It's take time to build dams or any kind energy. But Pakistan people need right way.
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May 06, 2017 03:55am
Shall I get back 5 years back of my country which Sharif brothers used to just rule her????
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May 06, 2017 04:09am
@Aamir Latif
Do you remember his election promise ?
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May 06, 2017 04:26am
@Truth hurts I feel pity when educated people like you favour PMLN, a party full of corruption and lies.
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May 06, 2017 05:27am
How opposition is responsible?Its the height of in-efficiency.
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May 06, 2017 05:29am
@Bitter Truth
Height of ignorance.How PTI is responsible? This is the headache caused by Federal government.
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May 06, 2017 07:46am
@TROLLROLL Wishful thinking of PMLN supporters.
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May 06, 2017 07:52am
What happened to Nandipur project? Over 30 billion tax payers money went into trash?
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May 06, 2017 07:55am
PM don't lose focus on ongoing country development projects. People don't like negative politics & this reality is bound to surface in 2018 national elections.
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May 06, 2017 08:14am
@noname
Just like there's a low level of acceptable 'Iman' in a similar way there's a compromise that has to be made with the only party which, though is corrupt and no different than the rest, has resources to deliver and will keep us stay afloat. In due course, all will and should get better. But to reach that point in time, we need to decide whether we want to lose everything and die (in the hands of inexperienced emotional dharna crowd mixed with the all-chat-no-work champions of democracy), or stay on the ventilator to buy some time! I choose the latter.
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May 06, 2017 08:46am
@Iqbal khan, yes I remember but aside from these political gimmicks that all politicians do, let's see the ground reality. A very serious effort by current government.
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May 06, 2017 09:34am
After 4 years of rule, PM is suddenly waking up to the reality that PMLN Govt performance to eliminate load shedding has been miserable. And in deep frustration he seems to have started scolding opposition for their own failures. Has the PM ever reviewed performance of Water & Power Ministers - Kh. Asif & Abid Sher Ali - but he is only keen to blame the opposition and not his own Ministers responsible for PMLN Govt failures.
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May 06, 2017 09:43am
When you point finger at someone, three pointing back at you Mr. Nawaz
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May 06, 2017 10:31am
Dear primeminister,
The solution is to shift all public and private schools and hospitals as well as government offices on solar energy by the govt importing solar inverters ongrid with battery backup with monocrystalline panels.
Problem solved people will vote for you the next elections.
I myself am running my whole house on solar all fans fridges tvs. Free energy from 9 am till 4.30pm
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May 06, 2017 11:00am
PM has acknowledged that they have not delivered on a key election promise.
Voters can decide accordingly in the next election.
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May 06, 2017 11:20am
What a joke PM sb...did you forget your promises you have made with the people of pakistan in 2013 election compaign.if u have forgot but we did'nt,dont make us fool any more...who did appoint abid sher ali(an incapble person who even cannot read a simple paper in english) on this important ministry,is this the fault of opposition???
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