Islamabad (Web Desk/Agencies): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday launches the establishment of Hazara Electric Supply Company (HAZECO).
Addressing the ceremony, the premier appealed business community to support the government's recently announced energy conservation plan marking the early closure of markets and restaurants, to ensure judicious use of national resources and reduce the import bill.
PM Shehbaz said that the business community's support to the energy conservation plan will reduce the oil import and bring down the dollar rate which would later be spent on country’s progress including agriculture and medicine.
The prime minister said any difficulty faced by a nation necessitated collective action and expressed the hope that the traders from across the country would take part in this “jihad” to save the national resources.
Referring to his telephonic interaction with International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday, PM Shehbaz assured that, unlike its predecessor, the incumbent government would abide by its commitments with IMF without further burdening the masses.
However, the premier said he also sensitized the IMF head over the country’s economic condition adversely affected by the worst floods and made it clear that his government had already taxed the rich but could no more burden the poor.
Speaking highly for the Pak-China fraternal relations, PM Shehbaz said in his meeting, the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang had also urged the IMF chief to support Pakistan considering the tough circumstances.
He also apprised the gathering of his 45-minute-long telephonic conversation with the Chinese Premier on Thursday in which the latter assured him not to leave Pakistan alone, which the prime minister said evidenced the improvement of bilateral relations strained by the poor foreign policy of the previous government.
Criticising the previous government for undermining Pakistan’s relations with friendly countries, Shehbaz Sharif said that former premier Imran Khan utilized most of his energies for political victimization and blaming the opponents.
"Unfortunately, the previous PTI government committed criminal negligence in development projects, including the initiatives relating to gas and power.
He said Imran Niazi never laid down single brick of development in the country, but has no match in hurling abuses and accusations on political opponents.
PM Shehbaz said that incomplete Sui gas projects halted by the previous regime of the PTI will be completed soon. He said formal directions have been issued in this regard.
HAZECO will be covering a total area of over 16,774 square kilometers which would cater to the needs of around 726,000 consumers across Haripur, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Battagram, Torgarh, Kohistan Upper, Kohistan Lower and Kolai Plus.