Sindh Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani criticized the recent announcement by the Punjab government to provide temporary relief to citizens, calling it a “political showoff.” Ghani’s remarks were in response to Punjab’s decision to reduce electricity bills by Rs14 per unit for two months, specifically in August and September.
This initiative was unveiled during a press conference on August 16 by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif, who explained that the relief package was aimed at people consuming up to 500 units of electricity. However, Ghani questioned the effectiveness of the short-term measure, pointing out that it was the federal government’s duty to ensure affordable electricity for everyone. He criticized the expenditure of Rs45 billion for only two months of relief, arguing that these funds could have been better used for long-term solutions. Ghani also raised concerns about what would happen once the relief period ended, as consumers would still face high electricity costs.
The relief plan drew criticism from other provinces, with parties like Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) accusing the Punjab government of using a “provincial card” on electricity matters. It is important to note that the PML-N is in power both in Punjab and at the federal level.
In a related development, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori expressed concern over the potential for a “sense of despair” among the people of Sindh if similar relief was not provided. Tessori urged Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah to follow Punjab’s example and allocate provincial funds to reduce electricity bills by Rs14 per unit. He warned that failing to do so could lead to discontent among the population.
Ghani also addressed the ongoing controversy over “record rains” in Sukkur, acknowledging the discrepancy between rainfall figures reported by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) and the local deputy commissioner. He explained that the Sindh government has its own methods for measuring rainfall in each taluka, which may differ from the PMD’s measurements, as the PMD only has towers in specific areas. Despite the conflicting reports, Ghani supported the district administration’s claim that Sukkur recorded 281 millimeters of rain.
The provincial authorities had earlier stated that Sukkur experienced a record-breaking 290mm of rainfall in a single day. However, Sardar Sarfaraz, chief meteorologist at the PMD, disputed this, stating that only 116mm of rain was recorded in Sukkur over 48 hours, while nearby Rohri received 134mm.
Ghani praised the administration for its efforts in clearing most parts of the city of rainwater, noting that work was still ongoing in some areas to drain the remaining water.
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