Press Conference June 10, 2012

PTI senior Leader Ahsan Rasheed while addressing a press conference on June 10, 2012 said that Punjab Government???s budget 2012-2013 is meaningless considering the performance and current situation in the Province. He said that it is impossible for a laborer to survive in 9000 rupees when the inflation is in double figures. Ahsan Rasheed challenged the self-proclaimed Khadim-e-Ala to make a sample budget for a laborer???s household in 9000 so that he could at least have a feel for the common man???s problems.

Punjab government has wasted 4 billion rupees on laptop scheme instead of spending on the poor. He said more than 11000 schools in Punjab lack basic necessities like electricity, water, furniture. addressing load shedding he stated that after the 18^th amendment bill was passed provinces can produce electricity of their own but Punjab government failed to produce a single mega watt in 2 years. Industry in Punjab has suffered due to this load shedding. Businesses have shifted to other countries. This has contributed to make our unemployment situation worse.

He said that farmers cannot afford to run the tube wells on diesel. The costs of producing wheat and other crops have risen. The government has failed to purchase wheat from the farmers at support price due to which they had to sell it on lower prices, not even covering their costs. Now the inefficient Punjab government has allotted 27 billion for stabling the flour price which shows their callous attitude towards the poor class. He was apprehensive that the cotton crop will also suffer due to shortage of water and electricity which will ultimately force the farmer to quit.

Talking about the deteriorating health sector He said that PIC scandal, dengue and the recent deaths of the new born in the services hospital fire tragedy has revealed the performance and seriousness of Punjab government towards health sector. Punjab government has miserably failed to provide affordable health facilities to the masses. He also said that the development budget of 246 billion is another venture for corruption as it will be allotted to the MNA???s and MPA???s to secure the next elections.

He said that the government is just spending the development budget on building flyovers and roads to their homes and the rest of the Punjab mainly south Punjab is suffering due to the self centered leadership of the Sharif brothers.

He also condemned the new proposed tax on CNG as the masses use CNG as an alternate fuel for their vehicles.

He rejected the proposed recruitment of 10000 new police men. Stating that the Punjab government has deployed half of the Punjab police for security and protocol duty of the VIP???s and has compromised the security of the people. Overall the system has collapsed in Punjab due to the inefficient governance.

PTI rejects the Punjab government???s budget as it has got nothing for the poor and the ruling elite in Punjab has once again served their own interests to influence the upcoming elections. There are protests all over the province and people are committing suicides, robberies and thefts are increasing. PTI demands a new free and fair election to transfer the power to those who are competent enough to solve the problems of the masses.

PTI Media Cell