Indian PM’s offer to supply 5,000MWIndian PM’s offer to supply 5,000MW

[Salman]

Indian PM’s offer to supply 5,000MW

Traders, others urge govt to accept offer

LAHORE: The Indian offer to supply 5,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity to meet energy requirements, has been welcomed by people belonging to various sectors of the country, stating that such a move would help defuse tension existing between the two sates since 1947 partition.

Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Irfan Qaiser Sheikh on Friday said that offer from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will not only help in overcoming the energy crisis but would also strengthen the relations of the two neighboring countries.

He said the government should accept the offer without further delay as it would definitely bridge the gap between demand and supply of power that hardly crosses the 5,000 MW mark. He said that the Indian offer is a very much doable project as electricity from India can easily be transmitted to Pakistan through Punjab without much delay. He said that electricity shortage has created anarchy-like situation in the country, particularly in the province of Punjab where not only the industrialists and the traders but people from all walks of life are staging protests. The LCCI president said that the crisis in industrial sector is not only causing flight of capital and relocation of industrial units to countries like Bangladesh and Malaysia but has also reduced government revenues drastically.

He said that unprecedented energy crisis has tarnished the image of the government, not only in the eyes of masses, but in the eyes of foreign investors who are making way to other countries of South Asia. He said that business community wants to play its best role for the progress and prosperity of the country but the people sitting at the helm of affairs are doing the other way.

Council for Pakistan Affairs president Mian Qamar-uz-Zaman said the history of worst relationship could be changed to cooperative future between both the neighbourly nations. India can also get many things on good rates form Pakistan. “You know in good neighbour borrowing things, exchanging things and help each other in hardship is a routine thing.” Pakistan must accept this offer for the benefit of its people as well as for the benefit of the people of Asia, because peaceful ties between both countries would be fruitful for the whole community of Asia.

A Pakistani Briton as well as former member British Parliament, Glasgow Chaudhry Ghulam Sarwar said that it is mutually beneficial for Pakistan as well as for India. He said that tensions between both states are heavily reflected in the financial budgets of both countries. “Both nations spend huge parts of their national money on defence budget only to counter the expected threat form each other, and if peaceful ties are established this amount can be used on development budget,” he added.

Faisal Maqsood Printing Press CEO Mehmood Ahmed said that welcoming this offer Pakistan must accept it and give full advantage to its people, industry and business. He said we want peaceful ties with all countries in general and with our neighbouring counties, including India in particular. Anjuman Arayian Pakistan President Mian Muhammad Saeed also welcomed the Indian offer and urged the government to accept this offer in the greater interest of the present condition of Pakistani people for future development of both countries.