Opposition terms power relief deceptive

Bhachar cautions against wheat supply crisis

LAHORE:

Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmed Khan Bhachar on Saturday dismissed the federal government's recent reduction in electricity tariffs as misleading, arguing that it offered no real relief to the public.

Speaking at a press conference, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's announcement of a Rs7 per unit cut in electricity rates, saying the gesture was framed to appear as significant relief, but was in fact marginal when compared to the earlier hike. "The government had raised the power tariff to Rs60 per unit and has now reduced it by Rs7. During the PTI government, the per-unit cost stood at Rs17. Even after this recent reduction, the rate remains above Rs34," Bhachar said.

He also argued that the reduction does not provide any benefit to agricultural tube well operations.

Bhachar accused the government of misleading the public with false claims, particularly in light of rising inflation. He claimed inflation has surged by 212 per cent, despite the government's recent assertions during a press conference that the economic conditions were improving.

Citing market conditions during Ramazan, Bhachar pointed to the price of sugar reaching Rs172 per kilogram, and claimed that standard-quality goods were unavailable even in model bazaars. He also highlighted concerns about wheat pricing, noting that the staple commodity is currently being sold at Rs2,000 per maund - the lowest rate in 25 years - warning that this could prompt hoarding and lead to a significant supply crisis within six months.

On agricultural issues, Bhachar said many farmers who had cultivated canola are facing financial losses, as its market price has dropped from Rs7,000 to Rs5,000 per maund. He also criticised the solar-powered systems provided to farmers, alleging that the technology is insufficient to operate inverter-based tube wells.

He went on to accuse the current administration of appropriating initiatives launched by previous governments, alleging that the costs of the 'Clean Punjab' programme are being passed on to citizens through utility bills. Bhachar also voiced opposition to the government's reported plans to outsource the Jinnah Hospital, questioning Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's capacity to manage healthcare services. "If she cannot manage a hospital in Lahore, she should stay home," he said.

Bhachar also criticised the outsourcing of schools, claiming that underqualified teachers are being hired at low wages. He also condemned the alleged sale of lands donated to schools, emphasising that such transactions are prohibited by law.