Punjab Cabinet Approves Subsidy on Electricity Bills
Recently, the Punjab cabinet approved a Rs14 per unit subsidy on August and September electricity bills for consumers in the province and Islamabad, using from 201 to 500 units. The Finance Minister, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, was notably absent from the meeting, leading to speculations about his absence being related to his controversial remarks regarding the subsidy issue.
The finance minister previously stated that the actual cost of the subsidy was Rs90 billion, contradicting the Maryam administration’s claim of Rs45 billion. The Punjab government clarified that it would exclusively fund this relief with Rs45 billion, despite the federal government allegedly contributing half of the amount.
The opposition, including the PPP and MQM-P, raised concerns about the rationale behind the subsidy, urging for clarification on who will fund it. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized the importance of providing relief to consumers and announced a comprehensive Climate Resilient Punjab Vision and Action Plan 2024.
Overall, the cabinet meeting discussed various initiatives and decisions aimed at improving transparency and eradicating corruption in the region.
Source: Dawn, August 30th, 2024
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