Former prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on Friday announced that the Punjab government will reduce per unit electricity prices to Rs14 per unit for consumer bills for August and September.
Addressing a joint press conference in Lahore along with his daughter, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the former premier lauded her for masterminding the programme.
The PML-N President announced the relief of Rs14 per unit for households consuming up to 500 units of electricity.
“Those who use 200 units have received relief in their bills,” Nawaz said. “Maryam tells me that the bills are higher due to the hot weather, so she has ordered a relief package to reduce customer bills in August and September. Those consuming between 0-500 units will receive a reduction of Rs14 per unit.” Addressing the media, Nawaz Sharif blamed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government for the sharp rise in the cost of living in Pakistan.
“It is the Imran Khan-led administration that brought the International Monetary Fund back to Pakistan,” said Nawaz Sharif. “Inflation crisis started during the PTI’s tenure,” he said.
He said, “I feel the problems faced by the people over the power bills and it merits mentioning 2017 when inflation and the power bills were extremely low.” Without mentioning the name, he said the IMF had been brought into the country by the one who is in prison now.
He also urged the prime minister and the Punjab chief minister to make all-out efforts for reducing inflation and ensuring ease in the lives of the masses.
The PML-N’s top leader said he recalls the time in 2017 when there was no price hike issue with people living an easy and comfortable life, adding that he became premier in 2013, his government worked on the economy, making it one of the world’s best-performing economies.
At that time, the world praised the country for its emerging economy, as the PML-N-led government took the US dollar to Rs95, Nawaz said. “However, the government had to keep the greenback pegged at Rs104 for the next four years owing to
