Azma Bokhari Defends Punjab, Criticizes KP Over Corruption and Governance

By Staff Reporter Muhammad Shahzad
Lahore: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari strongly responded to Muzzammil Aslam’s recent criticism of Punjab, saying that those who fail to manage their own provinces have no right to target Punjab.

“Everyone feels entitled to criticize Punjab without reason,” Bokhari said, adding that terrorism, corruption, lawlessness, and bad governance are at their peak in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). She pointed out that two KP cabinet ministers had recently resigned after publicly exposing corruption within the provincial government.

She questioned whether the KP government has provided any meaningful relief to those affected by recent floods in Buner, Swabi, and Swat. “Your Chief Minister writes letters to the federal government every month begging for funds, while your spokespersons are busy making baseless accusations against Punjab,” she remarked. “You can’t hide the truth with empty bragging like Sheikh Chilli.”

Bokhari emphasized that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz would neither seek loans nor accept aid in the name of flood victims. “Those who live on donations assume everyone else does the same,” she said. “But Maryam Nawaz, the daughter of a self-reliant leader, will never stretch out her hand before anyone.”

The Minister revealed that 1,857 survey teams are currently operating across 27 districts of Punjab to collect data on flood-affected individuals, farmers, homes, crops, and livestock. “More than 4.5 million people have been affected by the floods. This extensive survey will be completed within a month,” she noted.

Bokhari added that the Punjab government is taking concrete and organized steps for relief and rehabilitation. “Maryam Nawaz will personally reach out to every flood-affected family. These are not just statements — they are ground realities,” she concluded.