Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the Punjab government has set a new precedent with exemplary cleanliness arrangements during Eid, which have been widely appreciated by the public. She announced that Punjab’s annual budget will be presented in the Provincial Assembly on June 16.
Making an important announcement, she said that the Chief Minister of Punjab has rejected any proposal for new taxes, and the upcoming budget will be tax-free. She clarified that in order to expand the tax net, those who previously evaded taxes will now be brought into the system to increase state resources.
Praising the Chief Minister’s initiatives, Azma Bokhari said that her effective actions are causing envy in several circles. She added that the Chief Minister is utilizing all provincial resources to complete developmental projects, aiming for equal progress in all provinces so that every citizen can benefit.
She expressed these views during a joint press conference with Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat at DGPR Lahore. Azma Bokhari said that Gandapur is trying to become a cheap Maula Jatt, and that even Aleema Baji herself says they don’t want to come to Islamabad, so they should consult their advisers before making any statements.
She further stated that the federal budget attempts to provide relief to the people, and due to the strict IMF program, the federal government presented a balanced budget, while Punjab’s tax-free budget will be presented on June 16.
Azma Bokhari said that the Chief Minister is completing all development projects using provincial resources, with no federal project currently ongoing in Punjab. All development work is being carried out using the provincial budget.
She criticized the Sindh government, saying they don’t do their own work but express their frustration at Punjab. She remarked that the Karachi Mayor hasn’t even managed to lift garbage yet.
At the same occasion, Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat stated that Punjab has increased the education development budget by a record 400%, raising it from Rs. 32 billion to Rs. 110 billion. Similarly, the higher education budget is also being increased by up to 500%.
He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz believes education should have no boundaries, yet the KP government is showing hostility to students by instructing their Higher Education Department not to cooperate with students. If Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cannot provide laptops and scholarships to its students, it should at least allow them to receive support from other provinces.
During the joint press conference, Rana Sikandar Hayat announced that under the special directive of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Punjab government is giving scholarships to 5,000 students from other provinces.
Comparing the PML-N government’s performance with that of PTI’s tenure, he said that where the previous government launched 1,004 development schemes, they have introduced 5,006 schemes with special reforms in the Education Department.
According to global standards, doors to corruption and favoritism were shut by implementing an e-transfer policy, making permanent appointments of VCs, education officers, principals, and school heads, ending 1.1 million fake enrollments, and achieving 2.6 million NADRA-verified enrollments.
They reduced teacher shortage from 56,000 and enrolled 2.6 million students. A commission was formed for Early Childhood Education, and 12,000 ECE classrooms were built, in which 450,000 children have been enrolled.
Rana Sikandar Hayat added that the School Meal Program has led to improvements in enrollment and student health rates. He said that by saving taxpayers’ money, where a classroom used to cost Rs. 5 million, they built 400 rooms for Rs. 1.25 million each.
He added that scholarship and laptop schemes have helped transform the lives of thousands of youth. On the other hand, a historic crackdown against cheating mafias has been carried out, and next year the practical exam mafia will be eliminated as well. In the press conference, Rana Sikandar Hayat also gave good news about the provision of 26 coasters for girls’ colleges in urban areas.