Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto, while highlighting Sindh’s unmatching potential in the energy sector has underlined the need for increased private investment in Sindh’s solar and wind clean power sectors.
Criticizing the determination of electricity tariffs in Islamabad without consulting the business community or the provincial government, he called it a major issue, adding, “It is you and I who bear the consequences of such policies.”
Speaking about investment opportunities in the province, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that Sindh has as much coal as Saudi Arabia has oil. He highlighted that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto envisioned the Thar Coal Project in the 1990s. “Imagine how beneficial it could have been for the country and the nation if Shaheed Bibi’s hands hadn’t been tied,” he remarked.
He pointed out that after the dismissal of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s government, everyone working on the Thar Coal Project, including experts and investors, was subjected to retaliatory actions by the Accountability Bureau.
Criticizing the federal government, he said, “They shamelessly claim that electricity load-shedding has been eliminated, yet many areas in the country still suffer from power outages lasting up to 18 hours. We have lost confidence that we will ever get reliable electricity from the federal government.”
The PPP Chairman urged that solar and wind power parks could be established in every division of Sindh. He said that in the event of the federal government privatizing electricity distribution companies (DISCOs), the Sindh government should take over the DISCOs under a public-private partnership, adding that work has already begun on three energy sector projects, but more such projects will be included in the next financial year.
Terming water as a critical issue, Bilawal said that not only Pakistan but the entire world faces the threat of drought and famine due to global warming. He said that providing water to Karachi, given the rapidly growing population, is nothing short of a challenge. He emphasized that, like gas, the province has long been denied its rightful share of water. Pointing out the situation, he said that to meet Karachi’s water needs, it was agreed in the 1991 Water Accord that additional water would be allocated to fulfil the city’s requirements. However, to this day, not only has the additional water not been provided, but even the complete allocated share has not been delivered.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari criticised the federal government’s decision to construct six new canals on the Indus River, stating that this move would worsen the water situation in tail-end areas of the river, including Karachi. He said that when he opposed these canals, he was fighting for Karachi’s rights and standing up for the rights of its business community. He emphasized that the traders of Karachi, the people of Sindh, and the entire nation should demand the implementation of the 1991 Water Accord. Once this is done, we will be able to ensure water reaches every district and every area.
While discussing the Public-Private Partnership introduced by the Sindh government, the PPP Chairman said that Sindh is the only province where numerous projects under this model are not only running successfully but have also gained international recognition. “I want us to accelerate and further advance this Public-Private Partnership,” he added. Referring to projects like the Jhirk-Mullah Katiar Bridge, healthcare initiatives, and Thar Coal, he said that these are not only prime examples of good governance but are also operating profitably and now generating revenue. “I want to explore more win-win opportunities of this nature, where the business community and the Sindh government work together to serve this province,” he added.
Encouraging the business community to invest in sectors like green energy and solid waste recycling, he said, “We want to be your partners. Don’t see us as opponents but as allies. I’m not here to play a short game; I’m here for the long inning. I plan to stay here, in this city and work for its betterment. Together, let’s build our province”.
Bilawal underlined need for more private investment in Sindh’s solar, wind energy sectors
