Dr. Mirza Ikhtiyar Baig (Economist): Ensuring power supply is a serious challenge for the coalition government and the gap between demand and supply has reached to 7000 MW. Government is taking significant measures to overcome energy shortage in the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed to reopen all the closed power plants to improve supply of electricity in the country. The government is also considering taking steps to conserve energy in order to ensure its availability for all needed sectors. Prime Minister has also asked to take all necessary steps to save the people from load shedding. One of the major issues in decline of exports is load shedding and with improved power supply, the exports will increase.

Dr. Talat Anwar (Economist): The government is taking motivating initiatives to resolve the energy crisis facing the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has rightly called for increasing the availability of energy in the country, including reopening of power plants that were closed due to various reasons. However, we should use more indigenous and alternative sources of energy for power production. Pakistan is blessed with sunshine throughout the year and it can be harnessed to increase the power supply. The government has already indicated to provide solar energy panels to people on concessionary rates. In addition, other sources like wind, nuclear and coal could be utilized to increase energy supply in the country.

Dr. Zahid Anwar Khan (IR Expert): India is leaving no stone unturned to suppress the people of Kashmir to stop them raising their voice for their inalienable right to self-determination. The current Indian government is more aggressive in its policies towards Kashmiris and using all tactics at its disposal to suppress them. It has also revoked the separate status of IIOJ&K. It is high time that international community takes notice of human rights violations in the Indian occupied territory. Muslim countries should also stand with their Kashmiri brethren. Pakistan has been raising its voice to highlight the barbaric environment in IIOJ&K and is providing political, moral and diplomatic support to Kashmiris. It is a good development that G20 countries have raised their objections which forced India to change the venue of meeting of the summit.

Altaf Hameed Rao (Kashmiri Journalist): Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of Control and the world over will observe Martyrs’ Week from Wednesday till 13th July, 2022 to remember Kashmiri martyrs who laid their lives for the freedom of their motherland from illegal occupation and physical oppression. It is duty of international community and the United Nations to grant Kashmiris their right to self-determination. India has been using its reign of terror to stop Kashmiris from their alienable right. Kashmiris have rendered numerous sacrifices to get freedom from Indian yolk. Despite all the human rights violations, Kashmiris are determined to get their due right.