'I won't be responsible for loadshedding from tomorrow,' says Shahbaz Sharif

LAHORE: On the last day in power, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that he will not be responsible for any loadshedding in the province from tomorrow onwards.

The chief minister was addressing at the launch of the kidney transplant procedure at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI) in Lahore.

“At midnight, the government is completing its term. If there is loadshedding tomorrow, do not hold me accountable.

“Neither me nor (prime minister) Abbasi will be held responsible. The interim setup should be held responsible.”

He said the government has passed its test, and strived to provide electricity and due to their efforts, loadshedding has reached a minimum. “We are now absolved from our responsibility, now it up to you to deal with it.”

He said the entire country was facing extreme temperatures and despite the scorching heat, loadshedding was at a minimum. “There is no greater litmus test, in the month of fasting, when temperatures are at an extreme, loadshedding is at minimum.”

He said that despite a decline in biogas production, and other electricity for CPEC projects, the government of Punjab and the federal government set up five new projects and invested over Rs250 billion in power projects.

“This was not our responsibility to provide electricity to the entire nation. We could have provide to Punjab only.

“But I have always believed in the notion that investment of Punjab and the power to entire Pakistan.”

Speaking about the kidney transplant procedure, Shahbaz Sharif said that the institute was build at par excellence to provide the procedure free of cost treatment to needy and deserving patients.

He said the hospital administration was fearful of the activities of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) which has initiated an inquiry. “Due to the activities of NAB, the hospital administration is fearful,” he stated. “If this continues then the entire system will break down.”

He said the liver transplant procedure will be also started at the centre within a few months, which will benefit those who have to undergo the costly procedure from countries such as India.

He said that hospital will provide free treatment to deserving patients from across the country, and the expenses will be borne by the Punjab government.

Expressing concern about the constituencies delimitation set aside by the Islamabad High Court and the resolution by the Balochistan Assembly to postponed, Shahbaz Sharif said that it was not a good omen and it was imperative that free and fair elections are held.

“The nation demands that free and fair elections are held and on time. This is the second democratic transition and the people should have the opportunity for themselves.”

He hoped that whosoever forms that next government should work together for the benefit and welfare of the country, and set up institutes like the PKLI, which he claimed was one the leading hospitals in South Asia.