Punjab—often proclaimed as the most developed province of Pakistan—is, in reality, gripped by a democratic vacuum and administrative arrogance. Recent remarks by PML-N leader Asad Usmani, where he unabashedly declared Punjab to be “2025-level” in development while deriding Sindh and Karachi, reflect not only a political delusion but a dangerous detachment from democratic principles.

It is one thing to engage in political rhetoric; it is another to construct an entire narrative on denial and misrepresentation. As a former legislator and a witness to the federal dynamics of our politics, I must confront such claims head-on—not out of partisanship, but out of obligation to the truth.

The Punjab government, under PML-N, has become a textbook example of centralized control—run not by the people but by a handful of individuals with inflated egos and an allergy to accountability. The fact that Punjab has not conducted local government elections is not just an administrative failure; it is a direct assault on the Constitution of Pakistan.

Local governments are not optional—they are enshrined in our Constitution, meant to ensure public representation and grassroots empowerment. Yet, Punjab continues to operate under the outdated commissioner system, denying 120 million citizens their right to be governed by elected representatives. If the PML-N's performance is truly as sterling as its spokespersons claim, then why this fear of elections? Why the hesitation in handing over power to the people?

In contrast, Sindh stands with its head high—not because we claim perfection, but because we uphold the democratic process. Our local bodies are functional. Our systems—however imperfect—are inclusive and participatory. Unlike Punjab’s PR-driven governance model, we do not believe in showcasing “development” through orchestrated photo sessions and ceremonial inaugurations.

Let us speak of public health, where Asad Usmani's claims fall apart most glaringly. Sindh is home to the best healthcare institutions in the country: Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), and the National Institute of Child Health (NICH). These hospitals offer free treatment for cancer, heart, kidney, and liver diseases—a claim no hospital in Punjab can make.

The NICVD, in fact, has grown into the world’s largest cardiac hospital, treating the rich and poor alike without discrimination or charge. This is not just governance—it is a moral vision.

In education, too, Sindh has forged ahead. The Sindh Higher Education Commission continues to deliver meaningful reforms and quality oversight, something conspicuously missing in Punjab’s bureaucracy-dominated system.

Ironically, while the Punjab Chief Minister is still under the shadow of Usman Buzdar’s legacy and his coterie of advisors, she is being projected as a model of reform and governance. In reality, Punjab’s government remains directionless, preferring media optics over meaningful policies. If anyone needs governance training, it is not Sindh—it is the leadership in Punjab.

PML-N, for all its self-congratulatory declarations, remains tethered to the Pakistan Peoples Party in the National Assembly. It could not form a federal government without us. It cannot pass a budget without us. These are political realities Asad Usmani and others would do well to remember before maligning Sindh or the PPP.

The Pakistan Peoples Party is not a regional force. We are a federal party, with deep roots across the country—from Tharparkar to Multan, from Larkana to Lahore. Our workers continue to organize, protest, and demand justice—in Punjab as passionately as in Sindh.

To remain silent while Punjab denies its citizens the right to local representation is to become complicit. We will not stay silent. We will continue to demand local government elections, accountability, and a return to the people’s mandate.

PML-N can continue to paint a rosy picture of Punjab, but as long as it runs from democracy, its model is not one of development—it is one of decay.

The writer is a former Member of the Punjab Assembly and a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party.