Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hosted a luncheon for the members of the Parliament to meet them individually and also wished them over the occasion of Eid.
The lavish arrangement for the lunch was organized at the Parliament House where Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reached to welcome the members of Parliament.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari also arrived to attend the luncheon. Meanwhile, the Opposition leader along with 20 dissenting PTI lawmakers were also invited.
The food has been prepared for the Parliamentarians from the Prime Minister’s House and it includes six dishes including barbecue, halwa, and fruit chaat for dessert.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to take a vote of confidence from the National Assembly today. He decided to seek a trust vote after holding consultations with lawmakers of the ruling alliance.
Interestingly, the lavish arrangements for the lunch have gained much traction on social media. Netizens are criticizing the Prime Minister for not following his government’s one-dish rule and for foregoing the austerity drive he actively campaigned for.
Read more: Sindh to adopt austerity measures
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier announced that government will cut back allowances and travel expenses of ministers and advisers as part of an austerity drive that will save it 200 billion Pakistan rupees ($766 million) a year. The Punjab government last year had also imposed a one-dish menu at wedding ceremonies in a bid to cut back on food waste.
عوامی پیسہ کھابوں میں اڑائیں۔۔ الیکشن نہ کرائیں۔۔!!! pic.twitter.com/zgEF5F16sd
— Mughees Ali (@mugheesali81) April 27, 2023
قوم کا پیسہ نا خود کھاتا تھا نا ہی کسی کو کھانے دیتا تھا، اس لیے بُرا لگتا تھا https://t.co/75nl6MR9n9 pic.twitter.com/ga8UOrNs7h
— Ans Hafeez (@PakForeverIA) April 27, 2023
یہ ظہرانہ والا ڈرامہ اس لئے تھا ۔ اب جو ظہرانہ کھا گئے ہیں ان کو چاہئے مزید قوم کا پیسہ برباد نہ کیا جائے۔۔ اور اس دو فٹئے سے قوم کی جان چڑائے۔ https://t.co/TF1YvAASIn
— Muhammad Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@nawaz_naca) April 27, 2023
ایک طرف یے پارلیمنٹ آئین کے مطابق انتخابات کی دشمن بنی ہوئی ہے تو دوسری طرف پاکستانی عوام کے پیسوں پر پر تکلف ظہرانہ کا بندوبست کیا جا رہا ہے۔
عوام کو ووٹ کا حق بھی نا دو اور ان کے پیسے پر عیاشی بھی۔ #الیکشن_پاکستان_کی_ضرورت#NationStandswithCJP@PTIofficial @InsafPK pic.twitter.com/0z99BEiyvt— LAL MALHI (@LALMALHI) April 27, 2023
کوئی یہ بل زرا میڈیا پر شییر کرے جو کھابے آج قومی اسمبلی میں اڑائے جا رہے ہیں
اخے وزیراعظم ظہرانہ دے رہا ہے pic.twitter.com/LzKG4d5A99— Waqas Amjad ( محترم ) (@waqas_amjaad) April 27, 2023
ماشاءاللہ جیو عوامی حکومت
عوام بھوک سے خودکشیاں کرنے پہ مجبور ،حکمرانوں کی 6 قسم کے کھانوں سے تواضع 😡😡کفایت شعاری مہم کا دعویٰ دھرا رہ گیا
ارکان پارلیمنٹ کے لیے باربی کیو سمیت 6 ڈشز کا اہتمام
اراکین کے لیے وزیراعظم ہاؤس سے کھانا تیار کرایا گیا #ActiveInsafians pic.twitter.com/tJ2VpeZ0UD— ✰𝐌ᴜᴅᴀssᴀʀ 𝐒ʏᴀᴀʟ✰ (@1Mdsr) April 27, 2023
Netizens are also slamming the government for delaying Punjab elections while claiming lack of funds as the main reason, yet spending a huge amount of money on a luncheon for politicians.
As a result, the extravagant luncheon is being considered in bad taste as the public battles one of the worst inflation in years. People have also died due to stampedes during the free distribution of flour.
Read more: Stampede at Charsadda free flour distribution kills man