Lahore (Khyber Point)Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has come under fire on social media after posting a picture of a portable washroom she claimed was installed at a flood relief camp in Chiniot. The photo, shared on her official X (formerly Twitter) account, was captioned as a government initiative for flood victims.
However, the post quickly drew criticism when users pointed out that the same image had appeared in a 2023 advertisement on OLX, sparking accusations of recycling old photos for political publicity. Several users alleged that the Chief Minister had presented outdated content as new, with some even labeling it as “fake news.”
One critic directly tagged X administration, claiming that the CM was misleading the public. Another sarcastically suggested that Maryam Nawaz should dismiss her PR team for such blunders. The controversy rapidly went viral, fueling a wave of skepticism about government relief efforts.
In response, Punjab’s Information Minister Uzma Zahid Bukhari stepped in to clarify the situation. She released fresh images and video footage from the Chiniot relief camp, showing newly installed portable washrooms. To reinforce authenticity, the government also included geotags and time stamps, confirming that the facilities were indeed set up recently for flood victims.
The incident underscores the challenges politicians face in the digital age, where authenticity of content is constantly scrutinized. While government officials insist the initiative is genuine, the initial controversy has already cast doubts in the public mind.
Observers note that the backlash highlights how missteps in communication strategy can overshadow humanitarian efforts, especially during crises. As flood-hit communities await effective relief, the government is now under pressure to rebuild public trust by ensuring transparency and delivering tangible results.
