Former prime minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif said on Saturday that the situation had come to such a pass that no one; however rich, could pay electricity bills, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking at a special meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz in Lahore, he said that electricity bills had become a headache for everybody. “I eliminated loadshedding and even kept power tariff under control last time I was the country’s prime minister,” he said, adding, “Until 2017, not only the electricity rates, but the rate of US dollar was low too.”

“However, after 2018, the situation deteriorated and the poor man was crushed.”

He said who approached the IMF again when his government had bid farewell to it was an open secret.

Referring to his disqualification in the Panama Leaks case, he said the court’s decision applied brakes to the country’s progress. “It is time that those judges giving decisions today should think over it,” Nawaz said while referring to the Supreme Court’s decision to award reserved seats to the PTI.  

Speaking on the occasion, CM Maryam expressed the resolve that she would do as much she could to provide relief to the people.

She said that a hike in flour and electricity prices took a toll on a common man’s life. “I want to provide to each and every person in the province relief in electricity bills,” she said, adding, “The Punjab government will expand the scope of solar panel financing scheme gradually.”

Matters related to the Solar Panel Financing Scheme came under discussion at the meeting.

The chief minister directed that it should be made easier for the people to avail the scheme. She said that in the first stage over 100,000 people would be given solar panels.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad Hussain