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Monday July 14, 2025

Why PML-N does not hold LG polls if it claims to be representative of Punjab’s mandate, asks Sharjeel

By Salis bin Perwaiz
June 12, 2025
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon presides over the high-level meeting held at his office in Karachi on June 11, 2025. — PPI
Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon presides over the high-level meeting held at his office in Karachi on June 11, 2025. — PPI

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon on Wednesday said that the perception of Punjab as the fiefdom of a single party must be dispelled. He criticized the current Punjab government’s arrogant attitude and said its politics are based on the violation of rights.

In a statement, Memon said that the Punjab government has begun to fuel politics of hatred and division, which is a deeply unfortunate development. Moreover, the PPP believes in democracy.

He questioned whether it was wrong to speak about local government institutions. He asked if demanding local government elections was against the constitution or if granting the people their fundamental rights in Punjab was a crime.

The senior minister said that the Pakistan Peoples Party is a federal party and not limited to Sindh alone. The PPP has a strong political presence in Punjab, and its workers continue to stand with the people in the streets and neighborhoods. He added that the PPP has always advocated for democracy, local governments, and public representation. He noted that local government institutions are not functional in Punjab, and there is no accountable system at the grassroots level, so they cannot remain silent spectators. He said that the restoration of the local government system in Punjab and the transfer of powers to the grassroots level are the rights of the people. The PPP will not only continue to demand local government elections but also refuses to leave the people of Punjab abandoned.

He added that the PML-N claims to be the representative of Punjab’s mandate, so why it does not hold local government elections. Local government institutions are enshrined in the constitution. If the Punjab government fails to recognize these institutions, it is undermining the constitution. Moreover, if the country’s largest province manages its affairs under the commissioner system instead of through local government institutions, it is a regrettable act and contrary to the principles of democracy, Memon remarked.

Buses, e-taxis

The Sindh government has decided to purchase additional buses and allocate a substantial budget for electric taxis and scooters in the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26.

An important meeting of the Transport and Mass Transit Department was held in Karachi, chaired by Senior Minister and Minister for Information, Transport, and Mass Transit, Sharjeel Inam Memon.

The meeting was also joined by Secretary Transport Asad Zamin, MD Sindh Mass Transit Authority Kamal Dayo, CEO Trans Karachi Fawad Ghaffar Soomro, among other responsible officials. The session performed a detailed review of several projects under the Transport and Mass Transit Department, such as the Peoples Bus Service, electric scooters, and other related issues. It also covered the issue of setting up charging infrastructure for electric vehicles at several points. Senior Minister Memon was given a detailed briefing on the projects of the department for the fiscal year 2024–25, and detailed discussions were made about the proposed projects in the next fiscal year.

The Sindh Mass Transit Authority also informed Memon about the launch of bus services by various investors under the public-private partnership model.

The meeting was also informed that work on the Jam Sadiq Bridge, a key component of the Yellow Line BRT, has been completed and is expected to be inaugurated in the coming months. In the meeting, Memon ordered that all avenues be pursued in order to complete the Red Line BRT early.

Addressing the session, he said the Sindh government is dedicated to creating an environment-friendly and modern public transportation network and is working day and night to provide environmentally friendly and cheap travel options for the public.

He said that more buses are expected to arrive in Karachi soon, and double-decker buses are also being introduced for the citizens.

He added that successful projects such as EV buses and the Peoples Bus Service have already been launched in Karachi, and efforts are underway to expand this network to every corner of the province.

He stated that the government aims to ensure that every citizen across Sindh, including Karachi, has access to modern travel facilities. He emphasized that the projects launched by the Sindh government are designed to regulate the traffic and develop the transport system along modern lines.