PM Shehbaz Invites Bilawal Bhutto for Dinner to Ease Tensions Over Power Subsidy Dispute

In a bid to mend the growing rift between coalition partners, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended a dinner invitation to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The invitation comes in the wake of heated exchanges between the PPP and PML-N regarding electricity bill subsidies and the downsizing of ministries.

Sources within the PPP revealed that Bilawal Bhutto has received the invitation and will be attending the dinner at the Prime Minister’s House. The meeting aims to address the differences that have emerged following the PML-N’s decision to announce a subsidy on electricity bills in Punjab without consulting other provinces. This move, announced by PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz, has sparked criticism from the PPP-led Sindh government and the PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, both of which cited a lack of resources to offer similar relief.

The tensions were further exacerbated when Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah accused the PML-N of introducing expensive power plants, leading to higher electricity costs. The dinner is expected to serve as a platform for both parties to discuss these issues and find common ground. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who defended the Punjab government’s decision, has urged other provinces to allocate funds for similar subsidies, stressing that provincial governments should provide relief to their citizens using the funds received through the National Finance Commission.

As political dynamics continue to evolve, the dinner between Shehbaz Sharif and Bilawal Bhutto could be a critical moment in shaping the future course of the coalition government.