Zardari, Mush didn’t install any power plant: PM

SHUJABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Saturday said Pakistan Muslim League-N has done a commendable job and delivered a lot for the uplift of the country.

However, Asif Zardari-led Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and former dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf failed to deliver during their tenures, particularly regarding energy crisis.

Addressing a public meeting after inauguration of Sukkur-Multan Motorway [M-5] Multan-Shujabad section here, he said the country could be taken forward only through political process and democracy. He said the people are the ultimate decision makers in a democratic setup. He said the next general elections would be held in July this year and making a choice amongst the political parties was not difficult for the people, as they had witnessed the performance of all the parties in provinces.

He said Gen Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari failed to set up a single energy production unit and performing development work for the public. The PML-N government did not only announce development projects but also completed them on time. It delivered a lot even during hard times. The past governments had financial resources, but they lacked vision and commitment.

Abbasi asked people whether the Musharraf-led government lacked financial resources during its 10-year rule. Did Zardari lacked financial resources during five years of the PPP government? They had complete control on financial resources but they lacked commitment and vision, he added.

The PML-N government launched mega energy projects across the country and there would be no power shortage in the next 20 years. About southern Punjab province demand, he said those calling themselves the champion of southern Punjab province were once sitting on the right and left of Gen (retd) Musharraf. They were in a position to create a province, but they lacked commitment with the people of southern Punjab. He said the PML-N was delivering when a party was only abusing and raising fingers. He said a national dialogue must be held to evolve consensus on a new province in south Punjab, but it should not be used as an election slogan only.

The PML-N government generated additional 10,400-MW electricity in the last five years, and did a historic job which had not been done in Pakistan 65 years history.

The National Highway Authority officials said that M-5 Sukkur-Multan Motorway is part of Karachi-Lahore Motorway project, and it is being constructed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative. It is 394-km long and will cost around Rs294 billion.

The development work on M-5 was launched in 2016 and it will be completed by 2019. It is a 6-lane access controlled facility, taking off from Sukkur and terminating at Multan, after passing through several major cities including Ghotki, Rahimyar Khan, Sadiqabad and Bahawalpur. The project includes construction of several bridges, interchanges, underpasses.

APP adds: Later during the day, the premier also inaugurated the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto bridge over River Ravi.

The bridge provides an important communication link across the Indus River between the cities of Zahirpur on GT Road (N-5) and Indus Highway (N-55) via Mithankot. There is no river crossing on Indus up to Ghazighat, which is approximately 50km downstream of Taunsa Barrage. Dera Ghazi Khan is located approximately 120-km upstream of this bridge.

The bridge will greatly facilitate the traffic from Karachi, Kashmore, etc., on the Western side and Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur, Multan, Faisalabad and Lahore on the Eastern side, being a short route from Karachi to Lahore. It was an age-old demand of the people and will boost the economic growth of areas on both sides of the river, besides reducing distance and time of travel.

The bridge is 1.2km long with 12.2m width. Approach roads including 14km towards Zahirpur on N-5 and 16km towards Mithankot and N-55 have also been constructed.