Middle-Class Families in Layyah Run Their Homes on Rs8,500 a Month, PML-N MPA Claims
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab Assembly member Samia Shehni has claimed that some middle-class families in Layyah can manage their monthly household expenses with around Rs8,500, citing lower inflation and limited spending on branded products.
Speaking during a podcast, Samia Shehni said Rs8,500 is considered a significant amount in Layyah and that the relatively low cost of living allows some middle-class families to manage their household budgets within that amount.
She said people in Layyah are generally not brand-conscious and purchase everyday necessities from ordinary grocery stores. She claimed that she had personally seen several teachers in her surroundings managing their households on Rs8,500 per month.
"لیہ میں 8500 روپے بہت بڑی رقم ہے، وہاں انفلیشن ریٹ بہت کم ہے، مڈل کلاس لوگ 8500 میں پورا مہینہ گھر چلاتے ہیں، وہاں برانڈ conscious لوگ نہیں، میرا گھر 8500 میں نہیں چل سکتا" ن لیگی ایم پی اے سمیعہ شہانی
افسوسناک یہ ہے کہ MPA صاحبہ ساتھ طنزیہ سا مسکراتی بھی جا رہی ہیں pic.twitter.com/wU5gPoUobn
— Ahmad Warraich (@ahmadwaraichh) August 11, 2026
When asked whether she herself could run her household on Rs8,500 a month, the PML-N lawmaker replied that she could not manage her own household on that amount. However, she said she had seen close relatives and family members manage their expenses within the same budget.
Giving an example, Shehni said one of her cousins, who is also a teacher, had installed a solar power system at home through a committee-based savings arrangement. She said most household activities during the daytime are powered by solar energy, helping reduce electricity bills and keep monthly expenses under control.
She further said her family manages its weekly grocery shopping within a limited budget. According to her, her husband purchases essential items for the entire week on Mondays, including vegetables and fruits.
She claimed that basic household supplies for a week can be purchased for around Rs2,000, with families relying on ordinary grocery stores and limiting their spending to keep household expenses under control.
