Provincial Minister for Information & Culture Azma Bukhari said on Monday the Punjab government had excelled in all sectors of governance while the opposition was restricted to only social media hip.
Addressing a press conference here, she said that comprehensive security measures were being adopted across the province to ensure peace and order during Muharram-ul-Haraam. The government was not only managing Muharram with utmost responsibility but also handling all other major matters in an effective and organized manner, she added.
She said that provincial ministers were deployed in various cities for monitoring on-ground arrangements to maintain law and order throughout the holy month of Muharram especially during its first ten days (Ashura-e-Muharram). The ministers would be responsible for ensuring immediate response in case of any untoward incident, she said, adding that she was assigned the task of close monitoring of security protocols in Faisalabad division.
Azma Bukhari said the government was committed to upholding interfaith unity and preventing any disruption to the sanctity and solemnity of Muharram gatherings and processions. However, public cooperation in this regard was much imperative, she said and appealed to the religious scholars of all sects and media persons to play their proactive role for peaceful observance of Muharram-ul-Haraam.
She also defended the performance of provincial government strongly while condemning what she termed as the opposition’s propaganda and fake news campaigns on social media.
Azma Bukhari said the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had been proactively handling every festival and emergency situation with comprehensive planning and preparation.
She expressed concern over the rising trend of misinformation and said that some elements were spreading chaos through fake news. Referring to recent baseless claims against the government, she pointed out that a few fabricated reports were circulated to tarnish the image of Punjab, particularly concerning the Swat tragedy. “We did not politicize the Swat incident. Unlike others, the PML-N has never exploited dead bodies for political gain”, she added.
Responding to allegations about corruption and audit reports, Azma Bukhari clarified that the Punjab government did not release any audit report yet. Those who accuse us are themselves deeply soaked in corruption from head to toe, she added.
She criticized a political outfit for sharing outdated visuals from General Hospital of Faisalabad and said that they were using old flood footage to question her presence and the government’s response. They were circulating a three-year-old video just to spread panic, she added.
About infrastructure, Azma Bukhari announced major revamping of sewage systems and roadways in 140 cities of Punjab. She shared good news for Faisalabad and said that Metro Bus Service would begin by the end of July.
She also revealed the findings of a “Tree Tsunami” report and defended the Punjab health initiatives against baseless accusations.
She vehemently rejected claims about discontinuation of Health Card programme and said that these elements were those who painted the card in their party’s colors and now accuse us of ending it.
“Free treatment and medicine distribution continues across Punjab”, she said and added that Rs 22 billion had already been spent under the health insurance scheme.
She also announced that a 1,000-bed cancer hospital was set to start OPD services by December this and outdoor unit at Cardiology Institute Sargodha had already begun operations.
Discussing the Sahiwal hospital incident, Azma Bukhari said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took immediate action and handcuffed those responsible. She said that 12 private hospitals failing to provide essential neo-natal care had also been sealed. “We don’t hide irregularities rather we act on them”, she added.
She also hit hard her critics and said that they should compete with us on performance, not indecency. How many hospitals had been built in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she questioned and blamed the PTI for everything from the misuse of Zakat funds to creating offshore companies using charity money.
About media reforms, she welcomed the closure of dummy newspapers and assured that most work on the journalists’ housing scheme had been completed and now a final push would occur soon to follow.
She said that women were excelling across all fields and virtual police stations had already helped millions of women in addressing their grievances.
She said the PML-N government had not only lowered electricity prices in the past but continues to take pro-people initiatives such as relief for up to 200 units of electricity.
On the fuel price hike, she explained that the rise was a global impact merely passed on.
She stressed for unity and responsibility and said that the government would continue to deliver results despite malicious campaigns and political theatrics.