Daily Times

Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif made a commitment to the people of Punjab, assuring them that she will not let them down.

Addressing the concluding budget session of the Punjab Assembly, she pledged to tirelessly work every day, hour, and minute to improve the lives of the citizens and bring about positive changes in the system. She emphasized that no appointments in Punjab have been made against merit, asserting that no other chief minister can make such a claim.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif appealed to the opposition, stating, “Let Pakistan progress, opposition members are also my brothers and sisters. I know many of them are patriotic Pakistanis.” She expressed hope that the opposition would appreciate the budget as it did not impose any new taxes on the people of Punjab for the first time. “The opposition creates noise because they have nothing substantial to say,” she remarked, adding that anyone can make noise, but true service is a privilege granted to a few. She affirmed that the opposition would be defeated by the government’s performance.

Criticizing the previous PTI government, she mentioned that after three months of their performance, they claimed, “We were busy,” but they were actually busy with vengeance and setting new records of incompetence. She mentioned that Nawaz Sharif has no objections to installing air conditioners for Imran Khan in jail, highlighting the previous government’s focus on retribution rather than service. “I swear that the Punjab government and Nawaz Sharif never ordered the cessation of any facilities for the opposition,” she declared, adding that Imran Khan has privileges not afforded to other thieves.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed pride in the accomplishments of her government in the past 100 days. She noted that unlike previous administrations, she won’t complain about the past’s corruption and inefficiency. She announced significant measures including the launch of a laptop scheme worth 10 billion rupees, in collaboration with Google International, which will provide digital skills training to over 300,000 children annually. Additionally, new tech education programs, such as Middle Tech, Matric Tech, and Inter Tech, are being introduced for the first time, she added.

The CM also unveiled initiatives in machine learning, artificial intelligence, e-merchandising, and startups skill development programs, aiming to educate 4,000 children in IT across every district of Punjab. Sports competitions will be held in every district, with school sports grounds being converted into community sports grounds. She assured that students excelling academically would have their university fees paid by her. The minimum wage has been increased to Rs. 37,000 and systems are being implemented to ensure workers receive their full wages, she added.

Skill development programs for the children of laborers, including courses in plumbing, nursing, electrician work, and hotel industry skills, will be launched, and the ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ project will include 65 more services within three months across all districts, she said. Centers of Excellence for differently abled individuals and autism centers were being established in every district. The first pre-school, Nawaz Sharif Children’s Library, will be set up in Lahore, offering state-of-the-art facilities and specialized teachers, she said.

She announced the issuance of ‘Himmat Cards’ for disabled and bedridden individuals, the provision of wheelchairs, subsidized threshers and super seeders for farmers, and the initiation of solar-powered agriculture tube wells. Focus is on increasing oil seed production, with a 30 billion rupees green tractor scheme where 70% of the cost will be covered by the government; she said and thanked the acting chief justice of Lahore High Court for ending the young doctors association’s strike.

“If anyone disrupts the service to poor patients, I will not sit idle. I will not succumb to any blackmail. If the exploitation of poor patients occurs, I will not stand silently by,” she vowed and added that the government is establishing rescue services and trauma centers on all motorways in Punjab. This week, two air ambulances are arriving in Pakistan, which will serve the poor, not the wealthy. “We are building the first Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Pakistan, with outpatient services starting in a few months. Additionally, we are adding 500 more mobile clinics,” she added.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif stated that the construction of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology has begun. In the next three years, every city will have facilities for burn treatment, cardiology, and cancer care. “We are providing cardiology and cardiac surgery services in eight districts of Punjab. An advanced emergency response system is being launched in Punjab. The first Nawaz Sharif IT City in Pakistan is progressing successfully. High-speed Wi-Fi is being provided at 200 locations in Lahore, and this free Wi-Fi project will be extended throughout Punjab,” she further said.

Punjab has been led by Chief Ministers like Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, who set performance records and transformed the lives of the people through their service, the CM said and added, “As a representative of the new generation, I aim to bring innovation and modernization to the governance system. In these 100 days, we have accomplished all that we promised. I thank Nawaz Sharif for his guidance and daily support, which has led us to this historic achievement.”

The CM expressed gratitude to PM Shehbaz Sharif for his encouragement and appreciation at every step. She thanked the people of Punjab for recognizing their 100-day performance. The iPoll survey showed that the majority in Punjab wholeheartedly supports the Punjab government, inspiring a renewed passion for public service, she said. The CM praised Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman for making the historic budget possible. She also commended Secretary Finance Mujahid Sherdil and his team for preparing the budget according to her and Nawaz Sharif’s vision. Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Chairman P&D and their teams also deserve accolades for their efforts, she said.

The Punjab government has initiated 100% cashback schemes and the CM lauded all ministers for stepping out of their offices and serving the public in the field. She noted that never before in the history of Pakistan and Punjab has such an educated and youthful cabinet been formed. She thanked all the MPAs of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for standing by her and making the journey of service possible.

The CM said, “During Eidul Azha, despite the extreme heat, the district administration efficiently removed waste from the streets and ensured cleanliness. This time, there was no foul smell lingering on the roads. Punjab’s administration worked for 18 hours a day. Provincial Minister for Local Government Zeeshan Rafiq did not stay at home for three days and was present with the public on the streets. We are establishing an enforcement authority to eliminate hoarding, profiteering, illegal encroachments, enforce the law and control prices. This new force will serve the public across all districts of Punjab. The primary responsibility of the enforcement authority is to control artificial inflation. Under the ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ program, we have delivered services to the doorsteps of Punjab’s citizens.” A 30 billion rupees Ramadan package was delivered door-to-door. Health services and free medicines are being provided at the doorsteps of the people, she said and added that in the first phase of the ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ project, arrangements have been made to deliver 10 services to the people’s doorsteps.

Maryam Nawaz said, “We have established key performance indicators for commissioners and deputy commissioners and I personally monitor their performance. We are also improving law and order. During the previous tenure, there were cases of ghost enrollments in schools, with discrepancies like having 40 teachers for 200 students in some places and only two teachers for 300 students in others. InSha’Allah, we will rectify everything in the education sector this year. For the first time, we are restructuring the education sector, mapping schools in terms of facilities and deficiencies. Special attention is being given to curriculum development, teacher training, teacher accountability and assessing learning outcomes. We are making a comprehensive plan to enroll out-of-school children in good schools.