Hamza accuses PTI of retarding Punjab’s progress

LAHORE: PMLN Leader and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Hamza Shehbaz has said the PTI has put Punjab's progress made during the PMLN tenure into reverse gear.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, he said the PTI obliterated Punjab over the past three years exactly as they destroyed KP during their 9-year rule. He said those who love Punjab should realise sooner than later that a weak Punjab would lead to a weak Pakistan. Pakistan's enemies would be the only ones benefitting from the financial, administrative and agricultural degeneration of Punjab. He said during the PTI rule, Punjab's share in the divisible pool was reduced by 11 per cent. As compared to the Rs1,601 billion for the fiscal year 2019-2020, Punjab was allocated Rs1,432 billion for the year 2020-2021. Even this amount couldn't be used due to the incompetent Punjab government. During the PMLN tenure, Punjab's revenue collection increased by 121 per cent as the revenue increased from Rs142 billion to Rs315 billion over five years. But even after three years, the PTI is not even close to this mark.

He said the PTI slashed Punjab's development budget by Rs238 billion, whereas the PMLN increased it by 150 per cent during its five years. The PMLN spent over 80 per cent of this, which was Rs 1,757 billion, Hamza said, adding that the PTI could not do anything more than mere propaganda for South Punjab. The PTI reduced South Punjab's budget by 50 per cent as compared to PMLN's last fiscal year, which was Rs 228.6 billon.