Nawaz Sharif announces electricity bill relief for consumers using up to 500 units

LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced immediate relief on electricity bills for August and September. Nawaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), announced at a press conference with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz that consumers using up to 500 units per month will receive a discount of up to Rs14 per unit.

Moreover, Nawaz Sharif stated that the current inflation issue is not their responsibility, attributing it to the previous PTI founder’s tenure.

Addressing the public, the three-time prime minister said that he knows about the pain the people of Pakistan are going through.

In addition, PLMN’s leader blamed former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the ongoing hike in electricity bills. He also compared his tenure with the PTI leader stating in his supervision the country was progressing by leaps and bounds.

He also mentioned that he had addressed electricity pricing in detail during his speech on October 21. “In 2017, electricity bills were lower, and people lived more comfortably; vegetables cost ten rupees per kilo during our time,” Sharif said.

Nawaz Sharif remarked that during the PML-N-led government, the country was globally praised for its emerging economy, with the US dollar valued at Rs95.

Moreover, he noted that the government had to maintain the dollar at Rs104 for the next four years due to exports and other issues. Sharif claimed the dollar would have stayed at Rs104 had he remained in power.

PLMN leader began his speech by criticizing his removal from the PM Office, questioning if it was fair to oust a sitting prime minister simply because he did not draw a salary from his son.

Additionally, Sharif argued that his government was not responsible for the current price hikes, emphasizing that the international community had acknowledged Pakistan’s progress and its break from IMF constraints.

He accused Imran Khan, now in jail, of bringing the IMF back to Pakistan.

The PML-N leader highlighted that his administration had resolved the power crisis within three years and ended load-shedding before his term ended. He pointed out that electricity bills had soared from Rs1,600 in 2017 to Rs18,000 now.

Additionally, he compared interest rates, which were around 5% during his tenure but rose to 22% under the PTI rule.

Sharif also praised Maryam Nawaz for reducing flour prices after taking office in Punjab.