Dera Ghazi Khan/Karachi:
A bitter exchange of words among the leaders of the two federal partners of the coalition on how to help tens of thousands of people affected by floods in Punjab has exposed the underlying tensions that move under the appearance of the political unity.
On Thursday he marked the second consecutive day of public combat between the PPP and PML-N on the flood relief efforts of the Punjab government. The PPP argues that Benazir’s entry support program (BISP) is the most effective and fastest mechanism to help the victims of floods, while the PML-N government in Punjab insists on channeling the aid through its own “relief card” initiative.
The president of the PPP, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, criticized federal and Punjab governments on Thursday, led by the PML-N, for not issuing an appeal for international assistance. Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz replied that Punjab “would not beg” for help.
Speaking at the inauguration of an electric bus project in Dera Ghazi Khan, Maryam accused the PPP of politicizing the Punjab flood crisis. She categorically rejected the calls of the party to display the BISP in the province, dismissing as inappropriate to address the disaster scale.
“The BISP offers only RS10,000 to help, while our goal is to provide assistance from up to RS1 million,” he said, questioning how such a small amount could compensate for losses that reach hundreds of thousands of rupees. She reiterated that Punjab’s own resources would be used exclusively for her people.
“I don’t need anyone’s help. The money that belongs to the people of Punjab will only spend on them,” he said. In a strong rebuke to Bilawal, he added: “Keep your advice for you, we will handle Punjab.”
Maryam said he didn’t want to comment on the situation in Sindh, but directed pointed comments to the leader of the ruling party there. “Bilawal is like a younger brother, but I would advise you to first guide the spokesmen of your own party. Grant in your own province and keep your suggestions for you: we will take care of Punjab,” he added.
She defended her refusal to appeal to global help. “People ask me why I’m not begging the world.
Maryam also accused the rivals of exploiting South Punjab as slogan without delivering results. “Those who continue to invoke South Punjab also had the opportunity to govern here, however, they were Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif who carried out real development work,” he said.
“In the past, South Punjab obtained nothing more than slogans. We are doing a practical job here. In the schools in southern Punjab, children are even provided with milk,” he added. She warned that raising the problem of South Punjab amounted to drawing a dividing line.
His comments followed the strong defense of Bilawal Bisp, which described as the only credible and internationally recognized mechanism of Pakistan for the distribution of transparent and immediate aid. He urged the PML-N government to reconsider its decision.
The president of the PPP argued that governments around the world played a “frontline role” in relief and flood rehabilitation. He criticized the relief of the federal government to use the BISP and questioned its approach.
“The recent flood has devastated Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Ribereño belt of Sindh, but Punjab has been the hardest, especially southern Punjab, where destruction is historical,” he said.
“Why make the relief of floods a matter of ego? The bispon was used during previous floods and during COVID-19. If it refuses today, what is the fault of South Punjab? When people are homeless and live in the streets, why can’t they be helped?”
Bilawal criticized those who oppose the BISP, saying that they did not understand their effectiveness. He recalled that the PML-N had praised the program in the past. “If you have now taken a U turning, they should explain why.”
Linking his position with broader aid efforts, Bilawal welcomed the announcement of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of an agricultural and climatic emergency, which according to him was made in response to his appeal.
He described the exemption from the federal government to electricity invoices for homes affected by floods a positive step, but pressed for new measures. He urged the Government to seek international assistance, noting that Pakistan had resorted to global partners in previous crises.
Bilawal also asked the center to renegotiate the terms with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying that current conditions denied the fair support prices of farmers. He warned that without immediate measures, the country faced serious risks for food security.
The president of the PPP announced that the Provincial Government of Sindh would provide its own aid package for farmers through a “HARI card.” If the federal government joined, he said, the package could be extended to cover more from the agricultural sector.
He stressed that Punjab’s suffering justified urgent and coordinated action, not political disputes. He argued that the BISP remained the most efficient and transparent method available to deliver help directly to citizens.
