'300 free electricity units': 'Cheap talk' not solution to Pakistan's problem, minister tells PPP

• Solangi says there is need to discuss critical issues.
• Most of our necessities being fulfilled via foreign debt, he says.
• Minister says caretaker govt stands with ECP.

ISLAMABAD: Pointing towards various parties’ tall claims in their election manifestos particularly the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) pledge of providing 300 free electricity units if it comes to power, caretaker Federal Minister for Information Murtaza Solangi on Thursday said the "cheap talk" was not a solution to Pakistan’s woes, Geo News reported.

Addressing a seminar related to general elections 2024 in Islamabad, the interim minister said there was a need to discuss critical issues facing the country and called for refraining from spreading fake news.   

"It is extremely easy to say that I will provide up to 300 units of electricity for free. I will make education up to university free. One says he will double the salaries and another says he will triple them," he said while referring to the election promises of the political parties.

On January 4, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the PPP intended to set up energy parks in every district headquarters and provide free electricity to up to 300 units.

He had also promised free and quality education to people if his part came to power following the February 8 general elections. The wages of employees would be increased by 200%, he had said.

In today's address, Solangi said politics should not be done by playing with the future of the country. The nation’s real issues were health and education, he said.

"Most of our necessities are being fulfilled via foreign debt. The political parties should give a manifesto for getting out of this quagmire. All the conflicts stemmed out of the economic woes," he said adding that enhancement of the economy was need of the hour.

The information minister said the caretaker government stood with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and it was the government's job to facilitate the state institution.

Setting aside any doubt regarding a delay in polls, he reaffirmed that the top electoral body would conduct general elections on February 8.