President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said that discontinuation of the visionary power policy introduced by Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto has landed the country into energy crisis.

He was addressing a special ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr to distribute share certificates among the employees of Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) and Kot Addu Power Company (KAPCO) under Benazir Employees Stock Option Scheme.

The President recalled that realizing future needs of the economy, the then Government of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto initiated a visionary programme in 1990s to ensure energy security but the policy was abandoned by the subsequent governments.

He said as opposition leader Benazir Bhutto while addressing the National Assembly had warned the then government against discontinuation of the policy and even proposed to export of surplus electricity to neighbouring countries.

Referring to the Stock Option Scheme, President Zardari said this would not only empower the employees and make them owners of the organization but also ensure transparency in privatization as workers would have stakes in these entities.

The President regretted that the policies of government aimed at the welfare of masses are not getting due space in media but added that he doesn't believe in publicity but serving the people to ensure their rights.

He said the government had taken several measures to protect the rights of the workers.