Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, while responding to the statement of Ali Haider Gilani, said that he is either completely unaware of the facts or deliberately attempting to engage in political point-scoring.
She said that Ali Haider Gilani should come out of the closed rooms of Lahore and Islamabad, remove the lens of political bias, and visit South Punjab to witness the record development taking place there with his own eyes.
Azma Bokhari said that Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif does not see Punjab as divided into South or Central regions, but as a single, united province where every development project gives priority to South Punjab alongside other areas.
She highlighted that under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first phase of electric buses was launched in South Punjab. At present, electric buses are successfully operating in 10 districts across the province, and soon they will be expanded to all tehsils.
She further stated that under the flagship “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” housing scheme, out of 200,000 houses being constructed, a major share is allocated for homeless families in South Punjab.
She added that new sports grounds are being developed for the youth of South Punjab, while hospital upgradation work is being accelerated to improve healthcare facilities.
The provincial minister said that under farmer-friendly policies, Green Tractors, Kissan Cards, and Super Seeders have been distributed in large numbers among hardworking farmers of South Punjab to bring an agricultural revolution in the region.
She further emphasized that Rs. 10 billion is being spent on improving law and order and development in the Kacha areas to address security challenges and underdevelopment in South Punjab.
Azma Bokhari stated that whenever there is a lack of a constructive political agenda, some politicians start using the “South Punjab card,” but the public is now fully aware of such political tactics. She reiterated that the government’s development agenda is inclusive, transparent, and equally focused on all regions of Punjab without discrimination.