Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari, reacting strongly to Sharmila Faruqui’s statements, said that despite 17 years of rule in Sindh, the Pakistan Peoples Party cannot even count 17 public welfare projects, while Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has started 90 projects in just one and a half years, out of which 50 have already been completed. She said that Maryam Nawaz has introduced many revolutionary projects of public service, which include 90,000 houses under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme, 80,000 scholarships, distribution of 9,500 tractors among farmers, provision of 27,000 electric bikes and modern laptops to students. Along with this, a 1,000-bed cancer hospital, a cardiology hospital, electric buses, and free medicines are also being provided for the people of Punjab.
Azma Bokhari said that Maryam Nawaz’s government has not yet completed even two years but the performance is before everyone. “Come, let us have a comparison of performance. I am ready for a debate, everything will become clear before the nation.”
She said that despite 17 years of government in Sindh, such public welfare projects are not visible there which have been completed in Punjab in just one and a half years. “This is exactly our point, if there is development in Sindh, then why is it not visible? Sharmila Faruqui should come and show the nation.”
Azma Bokhari said that even the people of Karachi praise the roads and cleanliness of Lahore, which is what worries the leaders of the Peoples Party. She further said that Maryam Nawaz is going to distribute relief cheques of Rs. 1 million each to the flood victims of Punjab, while the Peoples Party wants that through BISP only Rs. 10,000 should be forcibly considered enough in Punjab. “We have no objection that you give relief to Sindh’s victims through BISP, but in Punjab Maryam Nawaz is giving greater and direct facilities to the victims.”