ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appealed business community to support government's recently announced energy conservation plan marking early closure of markets and restaurants, to ensure judicious use of national resources and reduce import bill.

"I appeal to business community to extend their support to government (for energy conservation). This will reduce oil import and bring down dollar rate which would later be spent on country's progress including agriculture and medicine," PM said addressing ceremony for establishment of Hazara Electric Company here.

Covering total area of over 16,774 square kilometers, new company would cater to needs of around 726,000 consumers across Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Torgarh, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower and Kolai Plus.

He said any difficulty faced by nation necessitated collective action and expressed hope that traders from across country would take part in this "Jihad" to save national resources.

Referring to his telephonic interaction with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, he assured that, unlike its predecessor, incumbent government would abide by its commitments with IMF without further burdening masses.

He said an International Monetary Fund delegation was slated to visit Pakistan in 2-3 days to “Take up and finalise” ninth review of economy to unstick direly needed bailout tranche of $ 1.1 billion.

Speaking highly for Pak-China fraternal relations, PM said in his meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had also urged IMF chief to support Pakistan considering tough circumstances.

He criticised previous government for undermining Pakistan's relations with friendly countries including China, Saudi Arabia and UAE because ex-prime minister Imran Khan utilised most of his energies for political victimisation and blaming opponents. Calling Imran Khan thankless person, he said PTI Chief had nothing to claim credit for any development project in KP, Sindh, AJK, GB and Hazara. He said despite enjoying their immense support, PTI Chief was ungrateful to former military leadership and was instead blaming them.

Coalition government inherited unimaginably poor economic conditions with energy crisis, halted CPEC projects and strained foreign relations.

He said at upcoming International Conference of Climate Resilient Pakistan, he would contest case of Pakistan. He resolved that under PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif's leadership, incumbent government would lead Pakistan to become great nation.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 07 2023

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