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Today's Paper | December 22, 2024

Updated 05 May, 2017 05:23pm

PM blames opposition for power shortfall in Pakistan

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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