Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses nation: Live Updates

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addresses nation: Live Updates
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is addressing the nation for the first time since assuming office.

8:07 PM: Prime Minister’s address to nation begins says people expressed their confidence in him.

8:08 PM: We should not hide from the reality that Pakistan faces severe challenges. During the last 14 years, mismanagement and corruption have ruined the foundations of Pakistan.

8:09 PM: PIA and Railways have been mismanaged. Hospitals, schools could have been established and power crisis could have been controlled if money was not wasted on PIA and Railways.

8:10 PM: Billion were spent on the Nadipur power project but some individuals stopped this project. Billions worth of machinery was ruined. We now have to spend an additional Rs36 billion to initiate this project.

8:11 PM: The Neelum-Jhelum project was supposed to be completed in six years. This was plagued by corruption and mismanagement. The cost of this project has now risen by Rs200 billion. I have directed that this project should be completed by 2013.

8:17 PM: I have spent two months evaluating and formulating a plan to deal with the power crisis. Circular-debt issue was a deterrent for power houses to generate to their full capacity. It was not easy to clear this debt. 1,700 MW have now been added to the national grid after the circular-debt issue was resolved.

8:19 PM: I will be satisfied when Pakistan produces more electricity than what is demanded. Electricity and gas threat is also a major reason for load shedding. We have started a drive against these thieves.

8:20 PM: We have to increase electricity generation to overcome power crisis which is not possible immediately. New projects will require several years.

8:23 PM: I am confident that the power crisis will be overcome in five years.

8:24 PM: I want to thank my Chinese friends for their interest in resolving Pakistan’s power crisis.

8:25 PM: Like the power crisis, terrorism is also a crisis which has plagued Pakistan due to bad policies. Over 40,000 Pak Army soldiers, security agencies personnel, policemen and civilians have lost their lives. In several areas out daughters cannot go to their schools.

8:26 PM: Concerned officials are afraid to act against terrorists.

8:29 PM: I invite those individuals for dialogue who have taken up militancy

8:30 PM: Every Pakistani is like my child and I cannot stand by as they are killed on a daily basis.

8:31 PM: We have to seriously evaluate what we have gained and lost from our foreign policy.


8:32 PM: Kashmir is a national issue. It is the responsibly for the leadertship of both Pakistan and India that wars of past have ruined our relations. Stability and prosperity of a national is linked to good relations with its neighbours.

8:33 PM: I have always stressed the importance of good relations with India.

8:35 PM: We have to revaluate our policy towards Pakistan. I reiterated to US Secretary John Kerry that drone attacks are a violation of the country's sovereignty. I asked Kerry to stop these attacks.

8:36 PM: The federal government will provide full support to the provincial government to bring an end to violence in Balochistan.

8:38 PM: Pakistan, Balochistan are dear to me not government.

8:40 PM: I am certain the Sindh government will be able to tackle the violence in Karachi. Karachi cannot fall into the grip of criminals.

8:42 PM: It is my desire that Karachi prospers and an underground metro is built in the city.

8:45 PM: Agreements with China will be a game changer for the region.