Maryam promises Punjab-style electric buses and public services as PML-N steps up AJK election campaign
PML-N Supremo Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz wave to supporters during an election rally in Mirpur ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections on Friday. Photo: X
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif on Friday took aim at Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari as he unveiled an ambitious development agenda for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging his political rival not to take election rhetoric personally and vowing to copy Punjab’s model of government to power in the region if his ruling party is elected in the region.
Addressing a massive election rally in Mirpur, about 258 kilometers from Muzaffarabad, along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said political competition should remain healthy and free from personal animosity.
“Bilawal should not take political remarks personally. This is Kashmir, not Kashmore, and this is Mirpur, not Mirpurkhas,” he remarked in an apparent response to recent speeches made by the PPP chairman during his election campaign across AJK.
I had planned a trip from Mansahrah to Mazfarabad and then to Mirpur, but it didn’t work. This plan could change the destiny of Azad Kashmir. অযায়ন ন্যান দিয়্তা তো অস্তে ক্র্যান কারি குத்து கு laptop, farmers கு cheap feed and seeds உர்கிய்கு க்கு க்கு குக்க pic.twitter.com/N62tIDWfT4
— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 24, 2026
With just days to go before the vote, Nawaz sought to portray the PML-N as the party with the strongest development record in the region, promising a “new era of development, prosperity and modern infrastructure” for AJK.
He said every major development project undertaken in the region under a future PML-N government would reflect the party’s vision, adding that his government would focus on modern transport, quality education, healthcare, urban infrastructure and public welfare.
“The people of Mirpur deserve the same standard of facilities available in Punjab,” Nawaz said. “If electric buses can run in Lahore and Islamabad, there is no reason why the people of AJK should be deprived of similar services.”
He pledged to personally oversee major development projects in AJK and said the region’s future would remain one of his top priorities.
Nawaz also announced that every deserving student in AJK would be equipped with a laptop to improve access to modern education and digital technology, describing youth empowerment as a key pillar of the party’s agenda.
Recalling his long association with Mirpur, the former prime minister said he was happy to return to the city after many years and praised the enthusiasm of the gathering, describing the devotion of the people of Mirpur as unmatched.
The former prime minister highlighted his party’s performance in previous governments and challenged political opponents to identify any administration that had done more development work in AJK than the PML-N.
“Wherever you see major development projects in Azad Kashmir, you will find imprint of PML-N,” he claimed.
CM Maryam, who made one of her most prominent campaign appearances in AJK, described herself as a “daughter of Kashmir” and said both her paternal and maternal grandparents belonged to the region.
“I consider myself Kashmiri by heart and soul,” she said. “Some people criticized me for saying this, but I am proud of my Kashmiri identity.”
I will ask Shahbaz Sharif sahib that the dualization of the International Airport Airport Road in Mirpur, the supply of gas and clean water to the houses, and the construction of tunnels in the Lohar Street and Lipa Valley, while special scholarships are also available for students… pic.twitter.com/Wc2g4ZqvnB
— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 24, 2026
Expressing concern over Mirpur’s civil infrastructure, Maryam said she was saddened by the deteriorating condition of the road and argued that Kashmiris, who had made huge contributions to Pakistan’s economy and development, deserved far better public facilities.
She announced that a future PML-N government in AJK would provide 10 modern electric buses to Mirpur and reiterated Nawaz’s promise to establish an international standard airport in the city.
“Nawaz Sharif has always kept the promises he made to the people,” she said.
The Punjab Chief Minister also promised to extend Punjab’s flagship welfare programs to AJK, including modern hospitals, mobile health services, free medicines delivered to households, ration cards, social protection schemes and other public welfare initiatives.
आज में मिरपुर नहीं आई, आज मरियम नावाज शरीफ अपने बाप Dada के गवी आयू। My father is also Kashmiri, my mother is also Kashmiri, my dada, father, and mother are Kashmiri. ये शर्व रिस्तह नहीं, खून का रिश्ता है आज जस महाबाद से मिरपुरने रेप्त किया है है है, वह तथाई कर रहा है के मी लोवे,… pic.twitter.com/itXyIATQ8G
— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 24, 2026
Without naming Bilawal, Maryam criticized rival political parties for making big promises during election campaigns but shifting the responsibility of governance to the federal government after assuming office.
She also claimed that many of the highways and roads used by supporters to reach the Mirpur rally had been built under previous PML-N governments.
मेरे काश्म्री भाजियो उर भहनो चालिस साल से as many conspiracies of Nawaz شريلٌم as many conspiracies of Nawaz شريلٌ الم خلفا هوآن اگر اللہ تعالیٰ KA فضل اور اپـ کی محبت ساحت نه هوتی متو کلاف هوتا۔ अज भी अप की महाबाद स् क्ष्ट्म की गुवाई दे देखे There is no lack of resources and passion in Kashmir, no modern infrastructure,… pic.twitter.com/LSKJwYMUwc
— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 24, 2026
Confirming the party’s election manifesto, Maryam said a PML-N government would ensure that the people of AJK enjoyed the same development opportunities and public services as citizens of Punjab.
Earlier, AJK PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Senior Vice President Tariq Farooq and other party leaders addressed the gathering and urged voters to support the party in the upcoming legislative assembly elections and promised accelerated development in the entire region under a PML-N government.
