Marriyum Aurangzeb defends Punjab budget amid Opposition protest in Assembly
- Marriyum Aurangzeb says Opposition protested without reading the Punjab budget.
- Punjab government highlights record development spending, environmental reforms, and South Punjab projects.
- Growth Policy to be launched next month as 1,600 government offices complete digitization.
LAHORE – Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb strongly defended the provincial government’s budget and performance during a heated Punjab Assembly session on Saturday, as Opposition lawmakers repeatedly interrupted proceedings with slogans and protests.
Responding to the Opposition’s criticism, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the lawmakers had neither read the budget nor listened to the budget speech before raising objections. She accused the Opposition of creating disruption instead of engaging in a meaningful debate.
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During her address, the senior minister outlined the Punjab government’s spending on environmental protection and development, saying Rs10 billion had been allocated for environmental initiatives, while Rs18.4 billion had been spent on the fisheries sector.
She said the Punjab government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, had presented what she described as the largest development budget in Pakistan’s history over the past two years. According to her, total development spending has reached Rs1,159 billion.
Criticising the previous provincial administration, Marriyum claimed the Environment Department was left in a neglected condition, with only six non-functional motorcycles when the current government assumed office. She added that nearly 1,000 personnel are now serving in the Environmental Protection Force.
Highlighting the government’s environmental reforms, she referred to electric bike and e-rickshaw subsidy schemes, the planned introduction of 2,000 electric buses beginning from South Punjab, air quality monitoring across ten zones under the Clean Air Programme, waste recycling projects under the “Suthra Punjab” initiative, and campaigns promoting plastic-free union councils and recycling in educational institutions.
The minister also highlighted development projects in South Punjab, stating that 55 percent of beneficiaries under the Asaan Programme belong to the region. She added that thousands of residents in districts including Khanewal and Bhakkar had received Himmat Cards, questioning why the Opposition objected whenever development initiatives for South Punjab were discussed.
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