Barrister Saif lashes out at ‘front page advertisements’; Punjab’s leadership fires back

PESHAWAR/LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Barrister Saif has demanded an investigation into Punjab government’s advertising budget. Yesterday (February 24), multiple Urdu newspapers carried full-front page advertisements, designed like headlines, of Punjab’s recent performance and plans for near future.

Speaking about that, Barrister Saif said, “The money of the poor people of Punjab is being wasted on advertisements.” He questioned that has inflation and unemployment ended in Punjab province that such expenditures are being incurred.

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“What performance is there to be advertised? Newspapers have been converted into advertisements with tax money. No more news will be published in the newspaper, it will be advertisements,” Saif lashed out.

He said that this money should be collected from those responsible and deposited in the national treasury. “The humorous advertisement for Maryam Nawaz’s official promotion is the height of frustration,” Barrister Saif said.

PUNJAB, FEDERAL MINISTERS FIRE BACK

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari addressed media today, and reiterated that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has set records of achievements in one year of her leadership.

“Maryum Nawaz has introduced a new trend by converting politics into service,” she said, adding, “Youth does not want petrol bombs, shotguns and sticks. The young generation has rejected the politics of arson and killing.”

Bukhari said that CM Nawaz has become a hope for the younger generation. “No one has started as many projects in 76 years, as Maryam Nawaz has done [in one year]. The youth want electric bikes, scholarships, laptops and loans for easy business,” the provincial minister said.

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Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah came to Maryam Nawaz’s defence saying that it would not be her fault that advertisements were published on the front pages of newspapers. “I will talk to [Senior Minister] Marryium Aurangzeb regarding these advertisements,” Sanaullah said.

PUNJAB COLLECTS PKR710 BILLION IN TAXES

As the debate on advertising spend continues, the Punjab government issued another statement saying that the province has collected a record tax revenue of over Rs710 billion since October 2019.

This tax amount has been collected through e-Pay Punjab – a digital tax payment solution. The system, developed by the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) in collaboration with Punjab Finance Department, has also facilitated more than 78 million online transactions to date.

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The information came to light during a progress review meeting presided over by PITB Chairman Faisal Yousaf, on Tuesday.

Citizens can conveniently pay 87 different types of taxes of 18 government departments from the comforts of their homes using e-Pay Punjab. So far, over 5.3 million citizens have downloaded the e-Pay Punjab app.