LAHORE – Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has criticized the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, for its alleged failures in governance and public service. Speaking at a press conference at DGPR, she compared KP’s performance with Punjab’s recent initiatives.

Azma pointed out the sharp fare hike in Peshawar’s BRT, which increased from Rs 110 to Rs 510, while Punjab’s electric buses charge only Rs 20. She claimed KP’s BRT project cost exceeded Rs 120 billion, whereas Punjab launched three transport projects at a lower cost.

She accused the KP government of taking credit for older projects, such as the Chashma Right Bank Canal (CRBC) and the Peshawar-D.I.Khan Motorway, both initiated by WAPDA and CPEC, respectively.

In employment, she stated that KP created only 173 tech jobs, while Punjab’s “Suthra Punjab” program employed 100,000 people. She also criticized KP’s housing and healthcare projects, claiming that only 200 houses out of a promised 5 million were completed, and most dialysis units were non-functional.

In contrast, she highlighted Punjab’s scholarships, student transport initiatives, and farmer support programs, crediting Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for launching key welfare projects.