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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday said owing to the wrong policies of the previous governments, his government inherited power shortage and the country was facing loadshedding.
Replying to public questions in his monthly TV programme “prime minister Online” broadcast on Pakistan Television and Channel Five, the prime minister said that energy crisis is not a new issue.
The prime minister said an important energy conference is being held on April 9, which will be attended by representatives from all the provinces to discuss and find solution to the energy crisis.
The PM, while referring to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) initiated by Benazir Bhutto in 1994 during her first term, said she was criticised for this initiative.
The prime minister said many corruption cases were made against Benazir Bhutto and matter was taken to the courts and the investors ran away from the country.
Gilani said, “This situation created energy crisis in the country, and it was failure of the previous governments that we are facing energy crisis today”.
He said despite remaining in the government for eight years, former president Gen. Parvez Musharraf did not contribute any thing in energy sector.
The prime minister said, “We have added 3400 MW in the national grid with the help of short term projects and added that more electricity will be added by end of the year when many mid term projects will be completed.”
He said many other projects like Bhasha Dam, Mangla Dam and other hydal projects were under construction to improve electricity and reduce loadshedding.
Gilani said, “I am from Punjab, and cannot do discrimination with other provinces on the issue of loadshedding.”
The prime minister said the provinces have been permitted to generate electricity, therefore, provinces are equally responsible for energy crisis.
The prime minister said government is also making efforts to get energy from Iran. He said during his informal talk with his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, they talked about getting 500 to 1000 MW electricity from India.
He said the Committee constituted by him on energy will meet daily to look into the present severe condition of loadshedding.
The gas shortage is also a problem directly linked with the shortage of electricity, as many power projects use gas and even provision of gas for fertilizers also create shortage for power projects, he added.
He said the government is also making efforts to import LNG from different countries to meet the demand in energy sector.
Replying to a question about energy losses, the prime minister said PEPCO and Ministry of Water and Power have been restructured purely on professional basis and all areas have been made independent and it will improve the situation and reduce corruption and line losses.
The prime minister said he had directed that there will be no new tax in the next budget and relief will be given to the people.
He said over 100,000 jobs will be created to provide jobs to youth especially the graduated people.
About change in Federal Cabinet, the prime minister said its a routine matter and it should not be a concern for any one. All the members of Cabinet are elected representatives and they are politicians.
He said the politicians are elected and they deserve to be included in the federal cabinet as they have the experience.
About allegations of corruption against his sons, the prime minister said these are wrong allegations and added that even the apex court has stated that he was not involved in Hajj corruption case, but still the press was projecting the issue.
