In a bid to address the growing tensions within the coalition government, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leaders for a crucial meeting. The meeting, scheduled for Thursday at the PM House, aims to resolve disagreements over ministry downsizing and power subsidies exclusive to Punjab.
The PPP delegation, led by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, will include top party members such as Sherry Rahman, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Syed Naveed Qamar. The meeting will be followed by a dinner, and key cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Advisor on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah, will support the Prime Minister.
The discord between the ruling ally and the PPP stems from tension over skyrocketing electricity prices and austerity measures. The PPP has criticized the federal government’s decision to downsize ministries, which they believe will lead to job losses and economic instability. Additionally, the party has expressed dissatisfaction over the power subsidy exclusive to Punjab, which they argue should be extended to other provinces as well.
The meeting comes after PML-N President Nawaz Sharif announced a PKR 14 per unit relief for Punjab users consuming 200 to 500 units per month. The declaration was met with disapproval from both the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration and the PPP-led Sindh government, who criticized the federal and Punjab administrations for not providing similar funds for their provinces.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has defended Punjab’s actions, stating that the Centre hadn’t provided any financial support to the province. He also urged other provinces to reallocate their development funds to offer similar relief to electricity consumers.
The meeting is crucial for the coalition government, as it aims to address the growing discord between the ruling allies. The outcome of the meeting will determine the future of the coalition and the government’s ability to implement its policies.
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