LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has said that the petroleum levy has nothing to do with the Chief Minister of Punjab or the provincial government, as it is a federal matter.
Commenting on criticism regarding the petroleum levy, Azma Bokhari said, “If a political party does not even know whether the petroleum levy is a federal or provincial matter, one can only say ‘MashaAllah’ about its political maturity.”
The provincial minister said the season of sit-ins appeared to be underway in an attempt to revive a dead political agenda.
“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. She added that the government was not concerned by the “frivolous demands” of any party staging a protest.
Azma Bokhari made it clear that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands or block roads. “Any party that wants to protest should do so peacefully,” she said, adding that while peaceful protest was a democratic right, no one would be permitted to violate the law or create difficulties for the public.
She expressed these views while speaking to the media during her visit to an exhibition at Expo Centre Lahore.
Speaking about the youth, Azma Bokhari said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz had declared 2026 the “Year of Youth.” She said the government would provide loans to young people to help them move forward and build their careers.
The minister advised students to choose educational fields that offered meaningful career opportunities. “Children should not pursue degrees that leave them facing unemployment. They should acquire degrees and skills that strengthen their future,” she said.
Appreciating the artistic talent displayed by young participants at the exhibition, Azma Bokhari said, “Our children are extremely talented and they have done remarkable work.” She said she had previously felt that the country’s young talent was declining, but visiting the exhibition had made her extremely happy. “I am confident that these young people associated with the arts will make their parents and country proud,” she said.
Azma Bokhari said parents had worked extremely hard to educate their children and assured them that the efforts of students who had completed their degrees would not go to waste. She said the government would provide young people with opportunities to advance and establish themselves.
The provincial minister said that in the past, teaching and nursing were among the more common career choices for girls, but hospitality had now emerged as a major field with significant opportunities. “There is no profession that a man cannot pursue, and there is no profession that a woman cannot pursue,” she said.
Azma Bokhari also advised fashion designers to create clothing that was affordable and accessible to ordinary people. Expressing her interest in art and culture, she stressed the importance of promoting young talent and providing them with opportunities to showcase and develop their abilities.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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