KARACHI: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Thursday that the government has accepted the challenge of resolving energy crisis in the country.

“We have initiated so many projects for overcoming energy shortages in the country with the help of short-term, mid-term and long-term programmes. It was not possible to overcome energy crisis in three years as claimed by the opposition, he said while replying to a question about energy crisis at the inauguration of First Pakistan International Gems and Jewellery Exhibition at a hotel.

Sindh Governor Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Federal Production Minister Chaudhry Anwar Ali Cheema were also present on the occasion.

Gilani said that his government has added 3,700 megawatt of electricity to the national grid. “My government has started work on Thar Coal Project for the first time to generate electricity. We have initiated work on Diamer- Bhasha Dam, began Neelam- Jhelum raising project, we are negotiating with Iran on gas and electricity supply projects, working on TAPI gas pipeline, import of electricity from Central Asian States and wind and solar projects”, he said.

The prime minister said that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has stopped run-of-the-river programme for generating electricity initiated by former chief minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi.

He said that whosoever is claiming to resolve energy crisis in three years is lying and added that Shahbaz Sharif has never added a single megawatt to the national grid in the last four years while calling the federal government as irresponsible.

“We are a responsible government. We have taken the ownership and accepted the challenge and will resolve this issue,” he vowed.

Replying to a question, Gilani said his government restored Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

“We have given sacrifices for the restoration of Chief Justice and went to jail for him and held long marches. When we were facing jails, their (present) supporters were living outside Pakistan. We cannot be part of any conspiracy and we cannot conspire against democracy. The matter is subjudice and I cannot comment more than this”, he said.