Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah recently exchanged sharp remarks over a newly announced power subsidy worth Rs. 45 billion in Punjab, which is governed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
This subsidy, which reduces electricity bills by Rs.14 per unit for consumers using 201 to 500 units in August and September, has sparked criticism from various quarters, including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The PPP dismissed the subsidy as a short-term, superficial measure.
The tension between the provincial leaders escalated when Murad Ali Shah criticized the subsidy as a “folly,” questioning its practicality. In response, Maryam Nawaz, without directly naming Shah, mocked his remarks, questioning whether spending on protocols, helicopters, and other government luxuries wasn’t more foolish than providing relief to the public. She emphasized that the subsidy was part of a broader plan to introduce a significant solar energy initiative, which she claimed would offer long-term relief from high electricity bills.
Read more: Maryam Nawaz criticized for Times Square ad amid Pakistan’s internet woes
Murad Ali Shah, in a separate statement, lamented the federal government’s lack of financial support for Sindh, contrasting this with Punjab’s ability to suddenly allocate funds for the subsidy. He accused the PML-N of turning to solar energy after investing in expensive power plants using imported coal and LNG while preventing Sindh from developing its own renewable energy projects.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a cabinet meeting, clarified that the subsidy was funded entirely by the Punjab government, with no federal involvement. He urged other provinces not to politicize the matter and suggested they could offer similar relief if they chose to.
Read more: Watch: Maryam Nawaz meets Arshad Nadeem and family
The subsidy announcement followed PML-N President Nawaz Sharif’s decision to reduce Punjab’s development fund to provide the relief. He publicly praised his daughter, CM Maryam Nawaz, for her efforts to lower flour prices upon taking office. PM Shehbaz Sharif also endorsed the relief package, describing it as “historic” and part of broader efforts to address the power crisis through measures like combating electricity theft and reforming the power sector.