IMF’s objection to power bills subsidy can be addressed: Azma

Lahore: Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said that if the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has an objection to the subsidy of electricity bills, it can be discussed. The loan for ‘Apna Chhat Apna Ghar’ program is interest-free.

While addressing a press conference in Lahore, Information Minister Punjab stated that the monthly installment of ‘Apna Chhat Apna Ghar’ program is Rs14,000 which will be paid in seven years. Owning a house is very important for every person. The funding and details of all programs will be announced later.

She added that a large number of people are applying for ‘Apna Chhat Apna Ghar’ program in Punjab.

Azma Bokhari further said that banks and other institutions take service charges for such a program which will be paid by the Punjab government. 240,000 calls have been received for this program.

She continued to say that the number of loans will be increased for this program. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will conduct the balloting every month and people named in the arson and violence cases will not be included.

She also said that the Information Ministers of the provinces issue statements against the opponents early in the morning. The rest of the provinces copied Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz who reminded all the provinces that the price of bread should be reduced. Punjab’s Air Ambulance project was also criticised, but later the opponents also decided to do the same.

Aurangzeb continued that when the price of petrol decreased, for the first time in history, rents were also decreased which was not done in other provinces.

The provincial information minister said that a series of old enmities and killings are going on in Lahore. The chief minister also summoned the report on murders in the city. No one will be allowed to engage in gang wars, or riots and spoil the situation. There is zero tolerance for violence in any form.

Earlier in a statement, she said that a temporary relief of two months has been given on electricity bills. The political opponents are playing politics on the relief of electricity bills. In some areas of Punjab, crops have been damaged due to flood rails. It is not an emergency situation regarding health in flooded areas. Dengue is under control in Punjab while the number of dengue patients is high in Sindh.