Petroleum levy federal matter, has nothing to do with Punjab govt: Azma Bokhari

LAHORE - Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the petroleum levy is a federal matter and has nothing to do with the provincial government. Speaking to the media during her visit to an exhibition at Expo Centre Lahore on Saturday, she criticised political parties for raising the issue at the provincial level. Azma Bokhari said the season of sit-ins appeared to have begun again in an attempt to revive a 'dead political agenda.' Referring to the electoral performance of a political party, she said, 'Look at the results of a political party in the last three elections and you will know how many votes it actually received.' She said the government was not concerned about the 'frivolous demands' of any party staging protests. The minister made it clear that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands or block roads. She said peaceful protest was a democratic right, but no party would be permitted to violate the law or create difficulties for the public. Talking about youth development, Azma Bokhari said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had declared 2026 the 'Year of Youth.' She said the government would provide loans to young people to help them build their careers and move forward. She advised students to choose educational fields that offered meaningful career opportunities, stressing that young people should acquire degrees and skills that could strengthen their future prospects. 'Our children are extremely talented and they have done remarkable work,' she said while appreciating the artistic talent displayed by young participants at the exhibition. She expressed confidence that young people associated with the arts would make their parents and country proud. Azma Bokhari said parents had worked hard to educate their children and assured students who had completed their degrees that their efforts would not go to waste. She said the government would provide opportunities for young people to advance and establish themselves. She observed that teaching and nursing had traditionally been among the more common career choices for girls, while hospitality had now emerged as a major field offering significant opportunities. 'There is no profession that a man cannot pursue, and there is no profession that a woman cannot pursue,' she said. Punjab fully prepared to deal with flood threat: Kh Salman The minister also advised fashion designers to create clothing that was affordable and accessible to ordinary people. Emphasising the importance of art and culture, she stressed the need to promote young talent and provide them with opportunities to showcase and develop their abilities. Tags: petroleumlevyfederalmatter