Former finance minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Miftah Ismael on Monday said that by the grace of The Almighty Allah, modern and cheapest power plants were installed in the country under the last PML-N government, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Replying to the statement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar, Ismael said with the help of these plants, the last PML-N government rid the country of loadshedding. “We had started improving the power supply and distribution system by laying down new cables, but the ‘incompetent’ PTI government could not stomach it and ordered stoppage of work on the project,” he said, and added, “And hence caused more loss to the power sector.”
But, he went on to add, the PML-N government would now again start working on the improvement of the electricity supply and distribution system.
Former finance minister claimed that the PTI leaders, as always, had lied to the nation that several power plants were operational in the country. “If that is true, then why is there still loadshedding in the country?” he questioned.
Ismael said truth of the matter was that Pakistan was an energy deficient country and that was what had prompted the last PTI government to consider installing more plants in the country, but failed to do so. “The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Chairman Khalid Mansoor had admitted that on television,” he said, and added, “Now it is for us to decide who is right and who is wrong.”
PML-N leader asked those opposing the import of fuel to tell as to how much gas, oil, furnace oil and LNG the country produced. “When we are short of a commodity, obviously we will have to import it,” he emphasized.
Ismael claimed that when last time Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister, the country was self-sufficient in wheat and sugar. “But due to the ‘corruption’ of the PTI government, Pakistan is now importing these two commodities,” he alleged.
He also hit out at the PTI for objecting to the rent paid on power plants. “Nobody gives you anything in this world for free,” he commented.
Reporter: Awais Kiani