Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that Pakistan is able to “start” despite opposition criticism as she accused Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf (PTI) of promoting chaos and harming the economy.
When he spoke at a Check Distribution Ceremony for CM Punjab Asaan Karobaar program, Maryam claimed that Pakistanis witnessed improvements in their lives. “People in Pakistan are tired of violence and chaos,” she said.
She criticized the former PTI-led government for driving inflation to 38%and claimed their policies scared outside of foreign investors.
When Maryam highlighted her government’s infrastructure initiatives, Maryam currently said built 700 roads. In a apparent reference to PTI founder Imran Khan, she rejected criticism that road construction is not contributing to economic growth.
“If the building of roads does not bring development, can siege and burn it?” She asked. She said that young people now understood who was responsible for their battles.
“It’s very easy to accuse someone and throw insults,” she said, adding that “time changed quickly, and that person is now enclosed in Adiala prison,” in a clear reference to Imran Khan.
Maryam said Pakistan could not afford more political chaos, warning that failure to secure progress would push many young people into despair.
“The opposition is unable to digest Punjab’s progress … Their policy has reached the point of beating each other,” she said, referring to the recent physical shift between Fawad Chaudhry and lawyer Shoaib Shaheen.
When Maryam discussed the Asaan Karobaar program, Maryam said the Punjab government provided interest-free loans ranging from RS1 million to RS30 million to help companies grow. “Loans are provided on 100% profits … No favorite will work,” she assured.
She acknowledged that job creation was a challenge, but insisted that the economy had improved in the past year as people’s living standards rose. “When we got to power, inflation was 38%, which is now reduced to 4%,” she claimed.
The Punjab government has received 185,000 business loans applications, she added, saying that as companies grow, employment opportunities will increase.
