We should not be wasting time in dividing the nation & staging sit-ins: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD, May 25 (SABAH): Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday he gets “goosebumps” when he recalls the disruption caused by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s 2014 sit-in during PML-N’s government.

He was talking to Chinese media and workers of Karot Hydro Power Project during his visit to the site of the project. “We should not be wasting time in dividing the nation and staging sit-ins. Whenever I recall the 2014 sit-in, I get goosebumps,” the prime minister said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s comments came as the PTI is marching from Peshawar to Islamabad under party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan’s leadership.

The prime minister noted that due to PTI’s sit-in in 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping cancelled his visit to Pakistan, and as a result, the Karot Hydropower Project was delayed by nearly almost a year-and-a-half. “…these sit-ins led to a loss of billions to Pakistan. As I stand here today, another sit-in is being planned,” the prime minister said, lashing out at the Khan-led party.

PM Shehbaz Sharif asked the PTI why was it holding protests. “We are working day and night to revive the economy that you deteriorated in the last 3.5 years.” The prime minister added that Imran Khan had installed “land mines” for the government by subsiding the oil prices. “…we are in talks with the IMF and are trying not to shift the burden on the people.”

PM Shehbaz Sharif asked the PTI to work for the development of Pakistan and stop the politics of sit-ins and disruption.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the 720 MW Karot Hydro Power Project will add environment-friendly and cheap electricity in the national grid.  

The Prime Minister said the foundations of the project were laid back in 2015 and it is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, which lies at the junction of Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Expressing his gratitude to the Chinese company for this project, Shehbaz Sharif said this project will not only provide clean and cheap energy that has no environmental hazards, but will also help us save four billion rupees. He said that that project will help us in moving forward to strengthening Pakistan-China friendship.