Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman announced on Thursday that the provincial government is developing a package specifically for individuals who use up to 300 units of electricity. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on low-income groups, who have been disproportionately impacted by ongoing inflation.
During an interview with a journalist outside the Punjab Assembly, Shuja stated that the scheme would be included in the upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024–25.
According to the statement, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had already established a committee, and there was potential for the announcement to be made prior to the budget. It was also mentioned that more than 25 million households in Punjab had a power use of 300 units or less.
The provincial minister attributed the repeated increases in gas and electricity tariffs to the federal government, while highlighting that the rise was a consequence of the PTI’s inefficiency during its time in power.
The founder of PTI previously asserted that he would never choose to borrow funds from the IMF and other sources and instead would opt for taking his own life. Mujtaba informed the media that the PTI’s tenure resulted in an increase in the national debt that exceeded the total accumulated debt of Pakistan over a span of 70 years.
He asserted that Punjab’s economic well-being surpassed that of other provinces and pledged to enhance tax revenue. He also acknowledged the efforts of Shehbaz Sharif, the former chief minister, in addressing this matter.
Shuja asserted that the 2024–25 budget, which will be presented in June, will be exceptional. He also stated that the PML-N has made significant progress in generating revenue.
