Nawaz promises airport, hospitals for Mirpur before AJK elections

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz President Nawaz Sharif on Friday took aim at Pakistan People’s Party President Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari by unveiling an ambitious development agenda for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging his political rival not to take election rhetoric personally and promising to replicate Punjab’s governance model in the region if his party comes to power.

Addressing a massive election rally in Mirpur, about 258 km from Muzaffarabad, along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, he said political competition must remain healthy and free of personal hostility.

“Bilawal should not take political comments personally. This is Kashmir, not Kashmir, and this is Mirpur, not Mirpurkhas,” he said in an apparent response to the recent speeches made by the PPP chairman during his election campaign in AJK.

With elections just days away, Nawaz sought to present 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 transportation, quality education, healthcare, urban infrastructure and public welfare.

“The people of Mirpur deserve the same level of facilities available in Punjab,” Nawaz said. “If electric buses can ply in Lahore and Islamabad, there is no reason why the people of AJK should be deprived of similar services.”

He promised to personally oversee major development projects in AJK and said the future of the region would remain one of his top priorities.

Nawaz also announced that every deserving student in AJK would be provided with a laptop to improve access to modern education and digital technology, and described youth empowerment as a central pillar of the party’s agenda.

Recalling his long association with Mirpur, the former chief minister said he was delighted to return to the city after many years and praised the enthusiasm of the meeting, describing the affection of the people of Mirpur as incomparable.

Highlighting his party’s performance in previous governments, the former prime minister challenged his political opponents to identify any administration that has carried out more development work in AJK than the PML-N.

“Wherever you see big development projects in Azad Kashmir, you will find the footprint of PML-N,” he said.

CM Maryam, in one of her high-profile campaign appearances in AJK, described herself as a “daughter of Kashmir” and said that both her paternal and maternal grandparents belonged to the region.

“I consider myself a Kashmiri heart and soul,” he said. “Some people criticized me for saying this, but I am proud of my Kashmiri identity.”

Expressing concern over Mirpur’s civic infrastructure, Maryam said she was saddened by the deteriorating roads and argued that Kashmiris, who had made immense contributions to Pakistan’s economy and development, deserved much better public facilities.

He announced that a future PML-N government in AJK would provide 10 modern electric buses for Mirpur and reiterated Nawaz’s commitment to establish an international standard airport in the city.

“Nawaz Sharif has always kept the promises he made to the people,” he said.

The Punjab chief minister also promised to extend Punjab’s flagship welfare programs to AJK, including modern hospitals, mobile healthcare services, free delivery of medicines to homes, ration cards, social protection schemes and other public welfare initiatives.

Without naming Bilawal, Maryam criticized rival political parties for making big promises during election campaigns but handing over the responsibility of governance to the federal government after assuming office.

He also claimed that many of the roads and paths used by supporters to reach the Mirpur rally had been built during previous PML-N governments.

Reaffirming 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 the citizens of Punjab.

Earlier, AJK PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Senior Vice President Tariq Farooq and other party leaders addressed the gathering, urging voters to support the party in the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections and promising accelerated development across the region under a PML-N government.