ISLAMABAD, Feb 18 (APP): Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf on Wednesday said that Pakistan People’s Party’s government will continue to work for promotion of the democratic culture in the country.

Talking to APP in connection with Day of Democracy being celebrated in the country on Wednesday, the minister reiterated government’s resolve for political stability, economic prosperity and welfare of the nation.

He said the government is committed to implementing the mandate of country people by ensuring that all national decisions are taken with complete consensus from public representatives.

Pervez Ashraf said that it is endeavor of PPP government to turn the country into a true democratic, progressive, welfare state in the light of the vision of late Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

He asked country men and political parties to play role to strengthen democracy in the country. He said the government is committed to addressing all national issues including energy deficit due to increasing gap between power demand and supply.

He assured that by December 2009 the government will include over 3000 MW electricity in the system with the support of private sector. He said there will be no load shedding after December this year and the government will overcome power deficiency by completing all short-term projects within a year.

He said the government has initiated rental projects which is only way to have required energy within months to overcome the power shortfall.  He said the government was also working on enhancing the capacity of existing system while it was also considering its long-term projects like Diamir-Bhasha Dam, Neelum-Jhelum and Kohala Project.

He said past government did nothing for power generation due to which the country is facing acute power shortage however he said the government is fully committed to improve the situation.

He said the government has planned short-term, medium-term and long-term strategy to produce sufficient energy besides improving situation through rental power plants.

He said while the projects are being processed on a fast track basis, at the same time an exercise is being carried out to establish realistic power demand supply scenario for all future projects.