Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said it was time for Pakistan and the United States to strengthen their bilateral ties, praising bilateral cooperation in refurbishing Units 5 and 6, costing $150 million, of the Mangla Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant.?
During the project’s inauguration ceremony, the premier stated that Pakistan desperately needed cheap electricity as the country’s energy import bill had reached an excessive $27 billion.?
Shehbaz expressed his appreciation for the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) assistance for the plant’s refurbishment, calling it a “wonderful example of cooperation” between Pakistan and the United States.?
“The cooperation in this project is an example of good relations between Pakistan and America,” he said, adding, “Now is the time for Pakistan and America to strengthen their bilateral relations further.”?
Furthermore, the PM expressed satisfaction with the US’s interest in carrying out a Tarbela dam extension programme. “The 75-years-old friendship and bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the US has further strengthened at the trade and investment levels.”
Shehbaz added that Pakistan was passing through hard times in the energy sector. “We can no longer afford to generate electricity from expensive sources. Pakistan needs cheap electricity, and steps have been taken in this regard,” he said. “Pakistan is working on generating electricity from water, wind and other sources.”
Shehbaz further stated that the previous government did not use alternative energy resources and instead continued to import oil, resulting in oil cartels imposing arbitrary conditions. “The time has come to give a shut-up call to the oil importing cartels.”
While the country could produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity from solar energy, Shehbaz questioned why this capacity had not been increased to 60,000 megawatts. “Who impedes working on hydropower, wind, and solar power projects?”?
“Had proper attention been paid to dam construction, Pakistan today could have been saved from a massive loss,” the premier said. However, he emphasised that crying would not help and that he needed to work day and night. “Actions, not slogans, bring about development.”