Miftah Ismael, a former finance minister, and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader said on Monday that by the grace of Almighty Allah, the country’s last PML-N government installed modern and affordable power plants.
In response to a statement by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Hammad Azhar, Ismael stated that the previous PML-N government eliminated load-shedding through the use of these plants. “We had begun improving the power supply and distribution system by laying new cables, but the ‘incompetent’ PTI government could not stomach it and ordered the project’s suspension,” he explained, adding, “This resulted in additional losses to the power sector.”
However, he continued, the PML-N government would now resume work on improving the country’s electricity supply and distribution system.
The former finance minister claimed that the PTI leaders had, as usual, lied to the nation about the existence of several power plants in the country. “If that is true, then why is the country still experiencing load shedding?” he inquired.
Ismael stated that the reality was that Pakistan was an energy-deficient country, which prompted the previous PTI government to consider expanding the country’s power generation capacity but ultimately failed to do so. “Chief Executive Officer of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Authority Khalid Mansoor admitted that on television,” he said, adding, “Now it is up to us to decide who is correct and who is incorrect.”
The PML-N leader challenged those opposed to fuel imports to provide information on the amount of gas, oil, furnace oil, and LNG produced in the country. “Obviously, if we run out of a commodity, we will have to import it,” he emphasized.
Ismael claimed that during the previous administration of Nawaz Sharif, the country was self-sufficient in wheat and sugar. “However, as a result of the PTI government’s ‘corruption,’ Pakistan is now importing these two commodities,” he alleged.
He also chastised the PTI for opposing the payment of rent on power plants. “Nobody gives you anything for free in this world,” he observed.
