Uzma Bukhari Invites Sharjeel Memon to Lahore, Defends Punjab’s Performance
Lahore: Punjab Information Minister Uzma Bukhari has responded sharply to Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, inviting him to visit Lahore to witness the progress in Punjab.
Reacting to Memon’s press conference, Bukhari said: *“Come to Lahore, we will show you the work happening in Punjab so that you can also learn.”* She added that repeating Punjab’s pink scooter initiative years later was a positive step, but urged Memon to offer “sensible advice” when addressing the federation.
Highlighting Punjab government’s achievements, Bukhari said farmers were given Rs55 billion in relief in 2024, while Rs98 billion was allocated in 2025. The current agriculture budget stands at Rs129.8 billion, with farmers already making purchases worth over Rs60 billion through the Kisan Card. She added that Punjab distributed 9,500 tractors last year under Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, with another 9,500 to be handed out this year. Farmers also received a Rs14 billion wheat support program.
Bukhari stressed that Punjab produces 22.05 million metric tons of wheat—2.5 times more than Sindh’s 3.54 million metric tons. Punjab has a surplus of 6.63 million metric tons, while Sindh faces a deficit of 3.19 million metric tons. *“Punjab feeds not only its own people but also supplies other provinces, while Sindh fails to meet even its own demand,”* she noted.
On the issue of flood relief, Bukhari criticized Sindh’s response, asking: *“Floods also hit Sindh—what relief has your government provided to the victims?”* She said Maryam Nawaz was actively helping flood-affected families in Punjab, questioning why this caused discomfort to Sindh’s leadership.
Earlier, Bukhari asserted that Maryam Nawaz had fought Punjab’s case before the entire nation, making it clear that no one would be allowed to politicize flood victims. *“Those who cannot deliver for the people should not indulge in unnecessary rhetoric,”* she remarked.
She concluded by saying that Maryam Nawaz had set new examples of merit, transparency, and good governance in Punjab, while political opponents were only trying to score points by criticizing her welfare initiatives.
