Sharif’s name means progress, rivals only bring chaos: Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has drawn a contrast between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leadership and its rivals, saying some political figures are associated with ‘abuse, chaos and conflict’, while the name of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is associated with ‘infrastructure and development’. She claimed that no one, except the PML-N, has ever contributed a single brick to the development of Pakistan or Punjab.

Speaking at the launch of phase II of electric bus service in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, Maryam said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz remains the only political party with the capacity to deliver development and serve people. “Opponents say that if anyone knows how to work, it’s the Muslim League,” she said, adding that the party’s track record speaks for itself.

The Punjab CM unveiled a number of major development projects for the province and announced a Rs30 billion signal-free corridor to Rawalpindi, the construction of the Thal Expressway from Rojhan to Bhakkar and the completion of the Lahore Cancer Hospital. She also announced a Rs100 billion program to introduce a new drainage and sewerage system in Punjab’s rural areas.

The ceremony marked the formal launch of the electric bus service in the Potohar region, starting with a fleet of 45 e-buses. The rollout brought a visible boost to Rawalpindi’s main corridors as the new green public transport service officially started operations.

Maryam performed a symbolic launch by pressing a button to activate the eco-friendly electrobus service. She also announced that the number of electric buses in Rawalpindi division would be increased to 145. Under the expansion plan, Jhelum, Chakwal and Attock will each receive 15 electric buses.

Commuters in the Rawalpindi division will be able to travel on air-conditioned, CCTV-equipped, comfortable electric buses. The fare is set at Rs20, while students, senior citizens, women and persons with disabilities travel free.

The recently launched routes in Rawalpindi include Railway Station to Humrahi Bus Terminal, Fawara Chowk to Koral Chowk, Saddar Station to Munawar Colony, Marrir Chowk to Motorway Chowk.

Maryam said the launch of 80 green buses to Rawalpindi was “a humble gift to the people of the city”. She added that after many years, Rawalpindi had regained its “beauty and cleanliness”.

The Chief Minister also said that the government will continue to expand the eco-friendly and modern public transport across the province. She told the gathering that the Nawaz Sharif flyover on Adiala Road is in its final stage of completion, which promises great relief to commuters who are currently facing long travel times.

She added that the government is constructing a 25-kilometer signal-free corridor stretching from Islamabad Expressway to Peshawar Road, with nine underpasses and three flyovers. Work on the project worth Rs 30 billion has officially begun and is expected to be completed next year. According to the Chief Minister, the signal-free corridor will directly benefit around 200,000 people daily, significantly reducing travel time and easing traffic burden across Rawalpindi.

Maryam further said that there has been more development in Rawalpindi’s roads and hospitals in the last eighteen months than ever before. She added that every street and neighborhood in Rawalpindi is cleaned daily and that workers under the Suthra Punjab program are working with dedication and honesty throughout the province.

She claimed that whatever development Rawalpindi has seen in the past was done either by Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif and the same is the case today. “The metro bus initiative was taken by Shehbaz Sharif and whatever development took place in Murree was done by Nawaz Sharif,” she said.

Maryam also said the buses have separate compartments for women, with CCTV surveillance to protect them from harassment. “Women across Punjab can now travel without fear,” she said.

The Chief Minister further said that her government would bring a new anti-harassment law. She added, “Each coming day in Punjab will be better than the last.” She added, “Maryam Nawaz will not be safe as long as the daughters and mothers of Punjab do not feel safe.”

She further said that 20,000 kilometers of roads have been built in Punjab over the past year and 1,000 inter-village roads are slated for construction this year. She added that no city in Punjab will be left with broken or damaged roads.

Maryam said that the stretch from Wagah to Lahore, which was once in a bad condition, has now been transformed into a beautiful corridor. “When tourists came to the Wagah border, we used to feel embarrassed. Now a 14 kilometer long green heritage corridor has been built. Anyone who enters our country will admire this corridor,” she said.

She said that roads are being built across Punjab and added, “Electric buses can run only when the roads are smooth and well constructed.” She said the electric buses will not add pollution to the environment.

She said that people with disabilities will have wheelchair facilities inside the new electric buses. The buses are brand new and are equipped with Wi-Fi and mobile charging ports. “These days you can’t do without a mobile phone, so the provision of these facilities was essential,” she noted.

The CM announced that 1,100 green buses will be on the roads in Punjab by December, starting with smaller towns before expanding to major cities. She said the aim is to provide the same standard of facilities in all districts, adding that she has no discrimination in her heart and all citizens of Punjab deserve equal rights.

Maryam also said that students no longer have to travel in rickshaws that “get pushed around” or ask strangers for lifts; instead, they will now travel with dignity. She said the Punjab government has taken responsibility for the education of students who cannot afford it, adding that 80,000 high-achieving students are receiving support under the Honhar scholarship program, while lack of facilities in 50,000 government schools is being taken care of.

She added that the school meal program was launched to help malnourished children, which has led to an increase in school enrolment.

Health facilities

Maryam further said that Pakistan’s first cancer hospital will start treatment in January while 20 cancer patients have already recovered through Mayo Hospital’s ablation machine. Patients diagnosed with stage one cancer will be able to benefit from this technology, she added.

She said that the Sargodha Institute of Cardiology has been completed and will be formally inaugurated soon. A heart center at Sahiwal is also ready while Lahore’s Jinnah Institute of Cardiology is under construction. She said that in Nawaz Sharif Medical District, treatment will be available to treat all diseases which were previously untreatable in Pakistan. She added that the Clinic on Wheels service provides door-to-door medical treatment.

Maryam said cancer drugs and other previously unavailable drugs are now 100% free and delivered at the patient’s doorstep. She said she personally ensured that hospital announcements were made with instructions to patients: “You don’t have to pay for medicine. All medicine is available free of charge at the hospital.”

She said patients with serious illnesses are given two months of medication at home and insulin for children with type 1 diabetes is also delivered to their houses. According to the chief minister, cardiology centers are being established in 20 cities and an air ambulance service has been launched within a single year – something she noted no other province has achieved.

Maryam also said within just ten months, 100,000 houses are under construction, which she described as a remarkable achievement. Under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme, 350 to 400 houses are being built every day, she said, adding that people are now leaving rented homes and moving into their own houses.

Efforts to combat smog

Maryam said that for the first time, Punjab has seen reduced smog levels in October and November. “This is perhaps the first year that smog has dropped by 60-70%,” she said, noting that in previous years schools and markets had to be shut down due to dangerous pollution levels. She attributed the improvement to better control over crop residue burning, vehicle condition checks and the use of smog guns.

She praised Marriyum Aurangzeb for her hard work in fighting smog. She said water shortage in Potohar region was resolved and clean drinking water will reach all households this year. Villages are being developed into model villages, she said, where urban-level facilities are extended to rural residents.

Describing Punjab as the ‘food basket of Pakistan’, Maryam added that 20,000 more tractors and high-tech farm machinery are being delivered to farmers this year. She said there has been more development in the last 18 months than in the previous ten years. Punjab has also introduced a new ordinance under which land grab cases will be decided within 30 days.

She said the Asaan Karobar (Easy Business) scheme has disbursed Rs 85 billion in loans and tree planting is underway across the province. She said that 150,000 workers under the Suthra Punjab program are active on the ground while PHA and WASA are being expanded in all major cities. “If Punjab progresses, prosperity will follow,” she said.

Maryam said the crime graph has dropped by 70% due to CCD’s work and criminals are now afraid to pick up guns. “Mafia are pleading,” she added. She said the security of Punjab’s people remains her top priority, noting that even an opposition politician had admitted that she feels safe in Maryam Nawaz’s Punjab.

She said she feels proud when people say she is Nawaz Sharif’s daughter because it motivates her to work harder. “If we start listing our achievements, the day would end, but the work would not,” she said.