ISLAMABAD: PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram says the Punjab budget is nothing but another bloated chapter in Maryam Nawaz’s personal branding circus full of tall claims on education, health, and development.

“Does this budget create genuine jobs for the youth? Will it lower production costs for farmers? Will it revive the dying industry? Will the common man breathe easy from unbearable inflation? Beyond the usual hot air and photo ops, there are zero answers,” he said in a statement.

“Instead of economic reforms, they have prioritised naming hospitals and schools after political dynasts. This is not governance but self promotion funded by public money while Punjab’s resources are shamelessly siphoned off for federal extravagance.”

At the federal level, Sheikh Waqas Akram exposed the regime’s “austerity” claims as a cruel joke. “The government is now seeking parliamentary approval for a staggering 3.684 trillion rupees in supplementary grants four times last year’s already massive 895 billion after years of uncontrolled overspending.” He said the PTI has rejected the Punjab budget in its entirety and termed the federal supplementary grants demand a daylight robbery.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2026