Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Announces Two-Month Power Relief Amid Criticism from PPP and PTI
Islamabad, Pakistan – The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have criticized the Punjab government’s plan to provide a two-month power subsidy to consumers. The subsidy, announced by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, will benefit residents using up to 500 units in their August and September bills.
PPP leader Murtaza Wahab, speaking on Geo News’ program Naya Pakistan, stated that while providing relief is important, it should be long-term. He criticized the Punjab government for incurring a financial expense of PKR 45 billion for a short-term relief plan. Wahab also accused the PML-N government of hastily signing contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) and urged for sustainable solutions.
Adviser on Finance to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Muzammil Aslam, also criticized the subsidy, calling it a waste of public resources. He highlighted that Punjab’s power projects generate electricity at a high cost of PKR 75 per unit, whereas Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa produce low-cost electricity. Aslam mentioned that new projects in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could reduce the cost to PKR 8 per unit.
On Friday, Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the reduction of the development fund to provide PKR 14 per unit relief in power bills for two months. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the decision, calling it a historic relief package. He emphasized ongoing efforts to find sustainable solutions to the power crisis, including measures against electricity theft and power sector reforms.
Doubts Revealed
Punjab -: Punjab is a state in northern India, known for its rich culture and history.
CM -: CM stands for Chief Minister, who is the head of the government in a state in India.
Maryam Nawaz -: Maryam Nawaz is a political leader in Pakistan, and in this context, she is mentioned as the Chief Minister of Punjab.
Power Relief -: Power relief means reducing the cost of electricity for people for a certain period.
PPP -: PPP stands for Pakistan Peoples Party, a major political party in Pakistan.
PTI -: PTI stands for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, another major political party in Pakistan.
Subsidy -: A subsidy is financial help given by the government to make something cheaper for people.
Murtaza Wahab -: Murtaza Wahab is a politician from the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is a province in Pakistan.
Muzammil Aslam -: Muzammil Aslam is a politician from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Nawaz Sharif -: Nawaz Sharif is a former Prime Minister of Pakistan and a senior political leader.
Shehbaz Sharif -: Shehbaz Sharif is the current Prime Minister of Pakistan and the brother of Nawaz Sharif.
Development fund -: A development fund is money set aside by the government for building and improving infrastructure and services.
Sustainable solutions -: Sustainable solutions are long-term ways to solve problems without causing harm to the environment or society.