SHEIKHUPURA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday said that he never promised to steer the country out of the severe energy crisis six months after assuming power but vowed the get rid of energy issues during his five year term.

The premier was speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of LNG powered Bhikki Power Plant in Sheikhupura district of Punjab.

The premier claimed that he and his team are working day and night to overcome the energy shortage which has made life difficult for the business community and the populace of the country.

"NEPRA had approved Rs95 billion for the project while the project was built in Rs55 billion", claimed the PM and added that his government is working not only to raise overall power production but also reduce cost.

He added that with cost reduction, the government can directly benefit commercial and domestic power consumers of the country.

In an apparent jab at political rival, PTI's Imran Khan, the PM remarked that one cannot produce power by burning electricity bills on a container but has to build power projects.

The premier reiterated that his 'hard working' team is making all efforts to overcome the energy shortage by 2018.

The prime minister was accompanied by Punjab Governor Muhammad Rafiq Rajwana and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.

The power plant will be commissioned jointly by Harben Electric International of China and American General Electric at a cost of 55 billion rupees.

Related: Punjab cabinet approves Bhikki power project