Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has criticized the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, accusing it of lacking the funds to pay employee salaries while still harboring ambitions of purchasing Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Speaking to the media, she called it a “joke” to suggest that Maryam Nawaz is following in the footsteps of KP Minister Shahram Khan Tarakai (Gandapur), in reference to the PIA issue.
Bokhari also addressed claims regarding the financial situation of Pakistan’s provinces, dismissing reports that suggested all provinces except Punjab are financially stable. She clarified that Nawaz Sharif never suggested that the Punjab government intended to buy PIA, stressing that all Pakistanis share a common interest in seeing the national airline improve. She welcomed potential investments from Karachi investors in PIA, viewing it as a positive development for the airline.
Furthermore, she highlighted that the Punjab government is set to present a surplus budget of Rs 630 billion for the fiscal year 2025, underscoring the province’s strong financial position. She also pointed out that Punjab had successfully cleared all its wheat loans dating back to 1952, eliminating a heavy 56% markup burden.
