Uzma Bukhari Accepts Debate Challenge, Dares Sharjeel Memon to Present 17-Year Sindh Record

Lahore: Punjab Information Minister **Uzma Bukhari** has accepted Sindh Senior Minister **Sharjeel Inam Memon’s** debate challenge, saying she will present Punjab’s two-year performance if he can show Sindh’s progress over the past 17 years.

Speaking at a press conference at DGPR Lahore, Bukhari said the provincial cabinet was briefed on Punjab’s recent floods — the largest in the province’s history — and thanked God that no human lives were lost to snake bites despite the extensive flooding. She stated that **47 lakh people were affected** and credited the Punjab government’s preparedness for minimizing losses.

Bukhari said that while Punjab acted responsibly as the country’s largest province, others tried to politicize its crisis. “When Punjab faced challenges, politics was played over it instead of offering support,” she remarked.

She announced a **Rs15,000 salary increase for Civil Defence employees** and revealed that **17 tehsils** have been prepared for flood response exercises. Tax exemptions will also be provided in flood-affected areas.

Criticizing Sindh ministers, she said, “I thought Sindh’s information minister came to discuss solar or sanitation projects, but they came only to do politics.” She accused Sindh politicians of mocking Punjab’s flood victims, saying, “If this isn’t politics over tragedy, then what is?”

Bukhari also took aim at **Karachi’s poor infrastructure**, inviting Sharjeel Memon to compare cities. “You show me Sindh’s 17-year projects; I’ll show you Punjab’s two-year performance. Take me to Karachi — I’ll take you to Multan, Lodhran, and Rahim Yar Khan.”

Defending Chief Minister **Maryam Nawaz**, she said Punjab has many ongoing projects, from distributing laptops to launching new buses, while some critics “have nothing better to do than complain.”

Concluding her remarks, Bukhari warned, “Punjab is not leaderless. We respect our allies, but attacks on Punjab and Maryam Nawaz will not go unanswered.”