Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Jhandial-1 gas project on Friday, said the country can only progress when democracy is strengthened.
"The country can only progress when democracy is strengthened, there is no other way," said Abbasi while addressing the attendees of the inauguration ceremony.
The premier also said that technocratic governments have never delivered, "nor can they".
Abbasi added the ruling party will continue to work for democracy in the country and will contest 2018 general elections.
Referring to the progress made in the PML-N's current tenure, Abbasi said Jhandial-1 gas project is one of the biggest finds in recent times and will benefit the region and the country as a whole.
He also ensured the local leaders and populace that the government will allocate funds for supply of gas to all villages in the region.
"We have reached a point that all gas consumers, whether residential or commercial, have gas connections," said the prime minister.
He also congratulated the local populace and Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif for the discovery of gas in the area.
Talking in regards to the improvement in electricity production during the current government, Abbasi said that since Pakistan's creation, only 20,000MW of electricity was produced.
"In the last four years, we added 10,000MW to the national grid."
Concluding his address, the prime minister said the country and its government still faces many challenges, "but we will make Pakistan a better country economically and also reduce inflation".
The Pakistan Oilfields Limited (POL) had discovered one of the largest oil and gas reserves from its Jhandial well earlier.Jhandial well is located in Ikhlas Block in Northern Potwar, about 83 kilometers Southwest of Islamabad in District Attock, said an official.
POL holds 80 per cent share in the block whereas Attock Oil Company (AOC) has a 20pc share.
The block is located in a prospective but geologically complex area surrounded by a number of significant oil discoveries.
The drilling of the deep exploratory well Jhandial-1 was proposed after acquisition and interpretation of recently acquired 3D seismic data.
The well was drilled to a total depth of 18,497 feet to test the Eocene and Paleocene carbonate reservoirs.
The Jhandial discovery is expected to contribute to the country's energy sustainability while also having a positive impact on the future of exploratory efforts in the block and surrounding areas.
