PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has instructed his party’s central and Punjab governments to engage with all political parties and institutions to address rising inflation. He also advised them to cut back on expenditures to free up resources for public welfare.
Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level party meeting at the PML-N Central Secretariat in Lahore on Saturday. The meeting was attended by key figures, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, federal ministers, and other senior party members.
The primary focus of the meeting was on alleviating the burden of inflation on the public. Discussions also included local body elections, power sector reforms, and party organization. However, no updates were provided on the political developments in Islamabad.
Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal spoke to the media outside the party secretariat, revealing that the power minister briefed the participants on ongoing reforms to ensure a steady and affordable power supply. Nawaz Sharif directed the party to review and reduce expenditures in Punjab and Islamabad to allocate more resources toward public relief.
Nawaz Sharif emphasized the need for the same level of commitment in tackling inflation as the PML-N demonstrated in addressing the electricity crisis in 2013. Ahsan Iqbal also shared that the Punjab local body and community development minister provided a briefing on amendments to local body laws and the upcoming elections.
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Nawaz Sharif called for improvements to existing local body laws to enhance the system’s effectiveness, stressing that local bodies should be capable of resolving issues at the grassroots level. A special session will be convened soon to reinvigorate and strengthen the party organization. Both the Punjab and federal governments presented their performance reports to the party president.
Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that while Nawaz Sharif’s plan to visit London is still uncertain, he will return to Pakistan after a medical checkup if he decides to go. The remainder of Ahsan Iqbal’s remarks focused on criticizing Imran Khan.
Regarding the May 9 riots, Ahsan Iqbal stated that there would be no dialogue with Imran Khan until he apologizes for the events, likening May 9 to Pakistan’s own 9/11. He accused Imran Khan of attempting to secure an NRO through covert means and alleged that PTI’s resolution passed in the US Congress was influenced by the Indian lobby.
Despite acknowledging the severe hardships faced by the public, Ahsan Iqbal criticized those who complain the loudest, accusing them of being responsible for the current crisis. He claimed that Imran Khan was receiving VVIP treatment in jail, including organic chicken and access to exercise equipment.
Ahsan Iqbal added that if Imran Khan finds his jail cell unsatisfactory, he should personally apologize to him, as Ahsan had also been kept in the same jail.
PML-N senior leader Hanif Abbasi recently accused Imran Khan of receiving contraband in jail. Ahsan Iqbal responded to questions about this by suggesting that any claim of preferential treatment could either highlight PML-N’s incompetence or imply establishment support for Imran Khan. He asserted that the only way out for Imran Khan was to answer for the £190 million scandal and the undervalued purchase of gifts.
When asked about efforts for a national dialogue, Ahsan Iqbal stated that Shehbaz Sharif had recently met with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and would soon meet with other parties. He claimed that the government had already turned the economy around, with indicators such as inflation, food inflation, and the tax-to-GDP ratio reflecting progress.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif refused to comment on Hanif Abbasi’s allegations regarding Imran Khan receiving contraband in jail and expressed his opposition to any dialogue with Imran Khan.
Later, a statement was issued in which Nawaz Sharif, while presiding over the important party meeting, emphasized the need for collective decisions by all political parties, governments, and institutions to overcome the economic crisis and provide relief to the public. He stressed that both federal and provincial governments should reduce expenses and allocate resources for public relief.
The meeting addressed the overall political and economic situation and measures for public relief. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed the party president on the federal government’s relief measures and informed him about his discussions with other political party leaders. Efforts are underway to generate financial resources for public relief by eliminating loss-making institutions.
Nawaz Sharif praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for their efforts in providing relief to the people, appreciating the federal government’s Rs50 billion and the Punjab government’s Rs46 billion public relief packages.
