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Summary Punjab CM has said that the energy crisis can be controlled by paying Rs 400 billion circular debts.
The Punjab Cabinet headed by Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif met at Minar-e-Pakistan camp office on Monday.The cabinet members along with the chief minister tied black ribbons on their arms to symbolically protest against the federal government for failing to control the energy crisis in the country. Secretary Interior Punjab briefed the cabined on law and order situation in the province.The provincial cabinet discussed Punjab Budget 2012-13 and strategy to provide relief to common masses regarding energy crisis.Talking to media after the meeting, Shahbaz Sharif said Punjab shared only Rs 4 billion in Rs 400 billion circular debt while the federal government was responsible for the remaining debt.He said that the federal government has done injustice to Punjab by not implementing the decisions unanimously taken in the energy conference and depriving Punjab of 700 MW electricity.Shahbaz said the federal government was wrongly propagating that the provinces could generate electricity while federal government’s guaranty was compulsory for initiation of any power project in the province.He said the situation would have been different if Punjab was allowed to generate electricity as the Punjab government has track record of completing several mega projects within few months.The Punjab CM added that the protest camp would be continued till end to power cut and just distribution of electricity while all provincial ministers and advisors would also conduct their daily work in protest camps outside their offices.Shahbaz Sharif concluded that the energy crisis cost a loss of Rs 90 billion to the economy of Punjab.
