He said this while talking to a delegation of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) that called on him under its Chairman Ahsan Bashir on Friday disclosed an official. Member National Assembly Pervez Malik, Special Assistant Khawaja Salman Rafique, secretary industries, secretary energy, Aptma officer-bearers Shahzad Ali Khan, Gohar Ejaz, SM Bashir, SM Tanveer, Wishal Monnu and Sheikh Akbar were also present on the occasion.
The situation created by the suspension of gas and electricity to industries in Punjab was discussed in the meeting. The CM said the issue of unjust attitude towards Punjab regarding worst load-shedding of electricity was raised forcefully at the Council of Common Interests, but consensus decisions of the Council have not been implemented so far. He said that thousands of labourers are being rendered jobless due to complete suspension of the power supply after gas to the industries in Punjab, and their domestic lives have been badly affected. "The economy is suffering irreparable loss because the country's exports have been affected severely. The people of Punjab should get their just right at any cost," he added.
According to him, the energy crisis is worsening with every passing day due to inefficiency and corruption of the rulers sitting in Islamabad and no attention has been paid in this direction despite the passage of five years. The country has plentiful resources, but there is neither gas nor electricity due to wrong policies of federal rulers. The Pakistan Muslim League-N believes in national solidarity and harmony. They (PML-N) have a clear stance from the day one that there should be uniform and equitable distribution of resources across the country while difficulties should also be shared. Punjab has always played the role of elder brother and has sacrificed its resources for other provinces on several occasions. At the agreement on National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the Punjab set great examples of sacrifice and brotherhood and gave billions of rupees to Balochistan from its own share.
"Me (CM) had forcefully and logically presented the case of the people of the Punjab at every forum." It was decided at the meeting of the Council of Common Interests and the energy conference that uniform load-shedding of electricity will be carried out across the country and the injustice meted out to Punjab will be compensated but these decisions have not been implemented. Shahbaz Sharif further said he had worked for several months at tent offices set up at Minar-e-Pakistan and other districts of the province in extremely hot weather without caring for his health to express solidarity with the people.-PR