The prime minister also addressed broader economic concerns, noting a significant drop in inflation to 11.5 percent year-on-year from 38 percent over the past three years
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clarified that the recent relief on electricity units provided by the Punjab government is entirely funded by the province’s own resources, and the federal government has not contributed to this initiative. Addressing the federal cabinet on Tuesday, Sharif stated, “The relief provided on electricity units by the Punjab government comes from their own funds.
The federal government has no role in it. Other provinces are welcome to follow suit.” This statement follows criticism from Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who, without specifically naming the Punjab government, had referred to what he called “foolish announcements” regarding electricity relief. CM Shah expressed concerns that such decisions could create unease in Sindh. The Punjab government, under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz, had announced a relief package offering Rs14 per unit for consumers using up to 500 units over a two-month period.
This initiative was directed by Nawaz Sharif and financed with Rs45 billion allocated from the province’s development funds. Sharif emphasized that this relief was a provincial effort and had no federal funding involvement. “This is a gift from the Punjab government to its people,” he asserted, expressing disappointment over the negative reactions to this relief initiative. Sharif criticized Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Minister’s claim that the federal government had funded the relief for Punjab, calling it an unfair assertion.
The prime minister urged other provinces to follow Punjab’s example in providing relief without politicizing the issue. He also addressed broader economic concerns, noting a significant drop in inflation to 11.5 percent year-on-year from 38 percent over the past three years. He stressed the importance of meeting revenue and tax targets set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), emphasizing that there would be no compromise on these goals.
Sharif also called for efforts to reduce power sector losses and recalled that the federal government had cut the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) budget by Rs50 billion to facilitate relief for 86 percent of domestic consumers. In addition, Sharif announced a plan to distribute 28,000 solar panels in Balochistan, with a federal contribution of Rs55 billion aimed at curbing electricity theft. He underscored the commitment to addressing the challenges in the power sector while maintaining fiscal discipline and adhering to IMF agreements.
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