2 million subsidised electricity bills issued

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz has said that the promise of giving relief to people in electricity bills has been fulfilled as the provincial cabinet approved the initiative for the residents of Punjab and Islamabad.

According to an official statement, the ministers said the CM had taken a historic step keeping in view the economic difficulties of the people. They also praised PML-N President Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for his vision of providing the relief worth Rs46 billion and thanked Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif for supporting the provincial government in this regard.

The chief minister said household consumers of Punjab and Islamabad consuming from 200 to 500 units of electricity were being given a relief of Rs14 per unit in the bills of August and September.

"This is a huge relief in electricity bills, which has never been given before," she said.

The chief minister said two million electricity bills including the relief had reached the consumers so far.

She said every bill mentioned the original amount and that payable after applying the relief offered by the Punjab government.

She highlighted that more than 150,000 consumers of Islamabad were are also being given relief in their bills.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the relief in electricity bills was an urgent measure, while a solar panel project was being launched for sustainable relief. She added, "Electricity relief is not a favour to the people, it is their right."

The chief minister said, "It is our responsibility to solve the problems of every citizen of Punjab, We are with them and will continue to support them." She added, "There is a very clear difference between those who work and those who merely talk instead. We thank Allah Almighty Who has always given us the opportunity to fulfill our promises."

Apparently referring to political rivals, the chief minister said, "Others advertised our relief of Rs46 billion in electricity bills to people, for which I thank them. I was surprised to see them troubled at giving relief to people in electricity bills."

She said press conferences had been addressed on the issue, "But I must thank them for promoting our project in the public."

The cabinet also approved the first comprehensive Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024, on which Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb briefed the members in detail. She said, " The Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan is in line with the national and international agreements."

She added, "In the first comprehensive policy in the country's history, an action plan has been prepared on flood management, ecosystem infrastructure, food security, agriculture and heatwave."

She highlighted, "Green cover, biodiversity, waste management, green transport, water conservation and Departmental Action Plans have been included in the document."

The cabinet lauded Minister for Construction and Communications Soheib Malik and Secretary Sohail Ashraf for saving Rs10 billion through e-tendering of construction projects. The chief minister said, "There is no such example of transparency in the history of Punjab."

She added, "The impact of transparency and end to corruption should be visible in the performance of institutions."

She highlighted,"There is corruption in every institution, the elimination of which is our responsibility." The CM also said, "Transparency is the hallmark of PML-N government."