Our performance will wash away opposition’s baseless allegations: PM

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SAHIWAL, May 25 (APP): Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz SharifThursday said his government’s performance would wash away all the baseless allegations by the opposition, which was impeding nothing but the country’s progress.

“They are not impeding or attempting to foil me.

They areattempting to obstruct the country’s progress.

We will not allow them to affect our pace.

People will distinguish between the negative and corrupt elements and those, who delivered,” he said addressing the inauguration ceremony of the first unit of Sahiwal Coal Power Project.

The prime minister was accompanied by Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq and Minister of State for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali.

Ambassador of China in Pakistan Sun Weidong was also present on the occasion.

With total capacity of 1320 megawatt, the project comprisestwo coal-based power plants of 660MW each.

This is one of the early harvest projects of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

It has been completed in a record 22 months period, six months ahead of the prescribed schedule.

Executed by M/s Huaneng Shandong Ruyi Pakistan Energy PrivateLimited, the first unit has already been connected to the national grid since May 12 this year while the second unit will be connectedduring the current month.

The prime minister also visited the control room and differentsections of the power plant wherein the Chinese engineers briefedhim about the functioning of the plant.

Nawaz Sharif told the charged gathering that he had no time to respond the unfounded accusations of the opposition ratherleft it up to the people to decide as all of his focus would be onthe people’s uplift.

“Now, work (on the development projects) has started and itwill not stop,” the prime minister expressed his resolve amid the slogans of `dekho dekho kon aya, sher aya, sher aya’ raised by the crowd.

He said the government had planned to allocate a record budgetfor development works in next fiscal year as the people would listento Finance Minister Ishaq Dar delivering the annual budget speech in the National Assembly on Friday.

Lauding the successful execution of the power project in just22 months, he said it was unprecedented in the country’s history, as usually even the coal shed (a component of the project) took more than two years to complete.

“This is Punjab speed.

This is the PML-N speed.

Hats off toyou Shahbaz Sharif! You called me hero, you are hero yourself,” theprime minister remarked highly acknowledging the services of Punjabchief minister and his team.

On the chief minster’s recommendation, the prime minister alsoannounced a one month bonus salary to all of the Chinese and Pakistaniworkers, who had been part of the project. APP/VNS, Lahore