Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Advisor, Muzammil Aslam, has sharply criticized former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz, accusing them of "laying landmines" for the country’s economy through their decision to grant electricity subsidies. Aslam condemned the subsidies, describing them as a major economic blunder that his administration will avoid repeating. He asserted that the actions of Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz have undermined economic stability, suggesting their policy was a deliberate attempt to disrupt the financial system. “The decisions made by Nawaz and Maryam Nawaz were flawed and have had a damaging impact,” Aslam said. “Their subsidies created false expectations and have left us with significant economic challenges. Now, the IMF is demanding that these subsidies be withdrawn by September.”

He further criticized the federal government’s handling of the issue, asserting that their approach has been politically motivated and has led to a series of mini-budgets. “If we continue to rely on the federal budget as a model, we risk complete economic disaster,” Aslam warned. The Finance Advisor also revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing severe discrepancies in electricity costs, producing power at PKR 7 per unit but purchasing it at PKR 70 per unit. He emphasized the province's plans to develop its own transmission infrastructure and make independent decisions about its electricity supply. Aslam also took aim at PML-N leader Ata Tarar, accusing him of lacking understanding of both constitutional and economic matters.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan