The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have united in criticizing the Punjab Government Power Subsidy plan, calling it a short-term move meant for optics.
A day after Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif announced a two-month power subsidy for consumers using up to 500 units in their August and September bills, PPP leader Murtaza Wahab voiced his concerns. Murtaza Wahab emphasized that while governments should prioritize providing relief to the public, such measures should be sustainable and long-term.
Murtaza Wahab pointed out that the Punjab government’s plan would incur a financial burden of Rs 45 billion but would only offer temporary relief. He criticized the PML-N for hastily signing contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) and stressed that the government should focus on providing enduring solutions rather than making moves for political gain. He added that playing the “provincial card” on electricity issues is inappropriate.
As Karachi mayor and a coalition partner of the ruling PML-N at the federal level, Murtaza Wahab called on the federal government to collaborate with the PPP to formulate long-term strategies for public relief.
Muzammil Aslam, Adviser on Finance to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), also criticized Punjab’s two-month power subsidy, deeming it a waste of public resources under the guise of relief. He argued that Punjab’s power projects, which generate electricity at Rs 75 per unit using imported furnace oil, are unsustainable. Muzammil Aslam contrasted this with Sindh and KP, which he said are producing low-cost electricity, with KP’s new projects generating power at just Rs 8 per unit.
Muzammil Aslam highlighted KP’s commitment to sustainable energy, noting that the provincial government has allocated Rs 20 billion for its solarization project, providing solar systems to families at a cost of Rs 200,000 each.
Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif, alongside Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, announced a reduction in development funds to provide Rs 14 per unit relief in power bills for consumers using up to 500 units over two months. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised this “historic” relief package, emphasizing that his administration is working to find lasting solutions to the power crisis, including measures against electricity theft and power sector reforms. He noted that Rs 50 billion from the federal development budget had been redirected to provide electricity price relief, benefiting consumers using up to 200 units.
