LAHORE:
The Punjab Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Monday as the opposition lambasted the provincial government’s economic policies and questioned the killing of citizens in alleged police action.
On the other hand, the Treasury defended the government’s policies and achievements, claiming that Pakistan is stronger and more peaceful now.
The fourth day of the general debate on the provincial budget saw heated exchanges as the opposition tried to portray the government as oppressive.
Finance Ministry lawmakers responded to some remarks by saying they would not let the opposition use the religion card. Opposition lawmakers said the budget lacked meaningful relief for the people.
They argued that rising inflation, taxation, unemployment and deteriorating public services had placed an unbearable burden on citizens.
Several PTI lawmakers maintained that economic stability was impossible without political stability and insisted that the continued imprisonment of former prime minister Imran Khan had exacerbated the political crisis.
Lawmakers Tayyab Rashid, Hassan Malik, Ghulam Sarwar, Rana Shahbaz and Sardar Muhammad Ali also questioned the government’s economic policies, claiming that the budget had not provided any meaningful public relief, and accused it of neglecting farmers, traders and employees.
They argued that new elections would reflect public sentiment and criticized the naming of publicly funded projects after political leaders.
The debate became heated as opposition members compared Khan’s political struggle to historical examples of resistance to oppression during Muharram speeches.
Information Minister Azma Bokhari objected to the remarks, saying religious personalities and events should not be used for political comparisons.
The deputy chairman deleted the controversial remarks from the meeting minutes.
Opposition lawmakers also repeatedly raised concerns about police and law enforcement, demanding independent investigations into the killing of a nine-year-old Australian girl during a Crime Control Department (CCD) operation in Chakwal and other incidents involving the police. Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan directed the provincial law minister to obtain reports on the issue.
Law Minister Rana Iqbal assured the House that he would summon the Inspector General of Police to address the concerns of members.
PTI MPA Rana Aftab Ahmed criticized the government’s efforts in healthcare and alleged that patients had to wait for years for surgeries while diagnostic equipment remained unused due to lack of trained personnel.
He also alleged corruption, bureaucratic abuse and harassment by law enforcement agencies, claiming the government had failed to provide justice, health care and education.
Brigadier General (retd) Mushtaq Ahmed of PTI urged the government to ensure health facilities and justice for Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi while backing Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace through diplomacy.
He criticized the government’s reliance on taxation and IMF-backed policies and claimed that Punjab’s development funds disproportionately favored Lahore at the expense of other regions. Ministers and lawmakers of the ruling party claimed that Punjab had achieved significant progress despite financial constraints.
Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat said the government had expanded educational opportunities, improved women’s safety, established Danish schools and strengthened infrastructure across the province.
He criticized the performance of the previous PTI government and accused it of corruption and mismanagement.
Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar highlighted the government’s investment in infrastructure, public healthcare, solarization and youth development, while asserting that Punjab’s governance model delivered visible improvements across multiple sectors.
Finance legislators Zakia Shah Nawaz, Ishrat Ashraf, Rana Shahryar Khan and Chaudhry Iftikhar Chhachhar praised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for introducing welfare and development initiatives, including the Suthra Punjab programme, education reforms, road infrastructure and agricultural support schemes.
They also praised the federal leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, and claimed that Pakistan had gained greater international respect through its diplomatic efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States.
