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 former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s name is linked with “infrastructure and development”. He claimed that no one except the PML-N has ever contributed even a single brick to the development of Pakistan or Punjab.

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

Punjab CM unveiled a slew of major development projects for the province and announced a Rs 30 billion signal-free corridor for Rawalpindi, construction of Thal Expressway from Rojhan to Bhakkar and completion of Lahore Cancer Hospital. He also announced a Rs 100 billion program to introduce a new drainage and sewage system in rural Punjab.

The ceremony marked the formal launch of the electric bus service in the Potohar region, starting with a fleet of 45 electric buses. The rollout brought a visible improvement to major corridors in Rawalpindi as the new green public transport service officially began operations.

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

Commuters in Rawalpindi division will be able to travel in comfortable electric buses that are air-conditioned and equipped with CCTV. The fare has been fixed at Rs 20, while students, senior citizens, women and people with disabilities will travel free of charge.

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

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

The premier also said the government will continue to expand modern and environmentally friendly public transportation across the province. He told the gathering that the Nawaz Sharif flyover on Adiala Road is in its final stages of completion, promising great relief to commuters currently facing long travel times.

He added that the government is constructing a 25-kilometre signal-free corridor that will extend from Islamabad Expressway to Peshawar Road, with nine underpasses and three flyovers. Work on the project, valued at 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 a day, significantly reducing travel time and easing the traffic burden in Rawalpindi.

Maryam further said that in the last eighteen months there have been more developments than ever on Rawalpindi’s roads and hospitals. He added that all streets and neighborhoods in Rawalpindi are cleaned daily and Suthra Punjab program workers are working with dedication and honesty across the province.

He claimed that whatever development Rawalpindi has seen in the past was carried out by Nawaz Sharif or Shehbaz Sharif, and the same is true today. “The metro bus initiative was taken by Shehbaz Sharif, and any development that took place in Murree was done by Nawaz Sharif,” he said.

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

The prime minister also said her government would introduce a new anti-harassment law. He added: “Every day that comes in Punjab will be better than the last.” He added: “Maryam Nawaz will not be comfortable as long as the daughters and mothers of Punjab do not feel safe.”

He further said that 20,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed in Punjab during the last year and 1,000 inter-village roads are planned to be constructed this year. He added that no city in Punjab will be left with broken or damaged roads.

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

He said roads are being constructed across Punjab and added, “Electric buses can ply only when the roads are smooth and well built.” He said electric buses will not pollute the environment.

He said that people with disabilities will have wheelchair access inside the new electrobuses. The buses are new and equipped with Wi-Fi and mobile charging ports. “Nowadays one cannot manage without a mobile phone, so the provision of these facilities was essential,” he said.

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

Maryam also said that students will no longer have to travel in rickshaws “being pushed” or ask strangers for rides; Instead, they will now travel with dignity. He said the Punjab government has taken responsibility for education of students who cannot afford it, adding that 80,000 high-performing students are being supported under the Honhar Scholarship Programme, while missing facilities in 50,000 government schools are being addressed.

He added that the School Feeding Program was launched to help malnourished children, which has led to an increase in school enrollment.

Health facilities

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

He said that the Sargodha Institute of Cardiology is already completed and will soon be formally inaugurated. A cardiac center is also ready in Sahiwal, while the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore is under construction. He said that in Nawaz Sharif Medical District there will be treatment available to treat all diseases that could not be treated in Pakistan earlier. He added that the Clinic on Wheels service is providing door-to-door medical treatment.

Maryam said that anti-cancer drugs and other medicines that were not available earlier are now 100% free and delivered at the doorstep of patients. She said she personally ensured that announcements were made at the hospital instructing patients: “You don’t have to pay for medicines. All medicines are available free of charge at the hospital.”

He said patients with serious illnesses receive two months’ worth of medication at their homes and insulin for children with type one diabetes is also delivered to their homes. According to the Chief Minister, cardiology centers are being established in 20 cities and an air ambulance service has been launched in a single year, something which, she noted, no other province has achieved.

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

Efforts to combat smog

Maryam said that for the first time, Punjab experienced reduced smog levels in October and November. “This is perhaps the first year that smog has decreased by 60% to 70%,” he said, noting that in previous years, schools and markets had to close due to dangerous levels of pollution. He attributed the improvement to better control of crop residue burning, vehicle health checks and the use of smog guns.

He praised Marriyum Aurangzeb for his hard work in fighting smog. He said the water shortage in the Potohar region was being addressed and drinking water would reach every household this year. Villages are becoming model villages, he said, and urban-level facilities are being extended to rural residents.

Maryam described Punjab as “Pakistan’s food basket”, adding that 20,000 more tractors and high-tech farm machinery will be provided to farmers this year. He said there has been more progress in the last 18 months than in the previous ten years. Punjab has also introduced a new ordinance under which land grabbing cases will be decided within 30 days.

He said the Asaan Karobar (Easy Business) Scheme has disbursed Rs 85 billion in loans and tree plantation drives are being carried out across the province. He said 150,000 Suthra Punjab program workers are active on the ground, while PHA and WASA are expanding in major cities. “If Punjab progresses, prosperity will follow,” he said.

Maryam said the crime rate has dropped by 70% due to the work of the CCD and criminals are now afraid to take up weapons. “The mafias are begging,” he added. She said the safety of Punjab residents 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 started listing our performance, the day would end but the work would not,” he said.