MARYAM Nawaz Sharif, who took oath as 19th Chief Minister of Punjab in February 2024, has set new benchmarks of governance, transforming almost the entire landscape of the province due to the dynamic policies and programmes launched during the last two years.
Maryam, who has the honour of being the first woman CM in the history of Punjab, has focused on good governance, transparency, vigilance, youth empowerment and public welfare, an approach that has contributed immensely in making lives of the people easier and holding the administrative machinery accountable. The most distinctive aspect of her governance is that she has not only launched innovative projects and programmes for socio-economic welfare of the people but also ensured their proper implementation, therefore, Punjab of today is much different from it was before 2024.
It is because of the mind-boggling transformation that the province has witnessed in almost every field that Punjab is widely seen as a model of development and governance attracting local and foreign investment and contributing immensely to the popularity of the PML(N). Analysts believe that the provincial government has achieved remarkable successes mainly because of the patronage and guidance of the highly experienced, seasoned and veteran leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and energetic and committed aides like Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb and Minister for Information and Culture Azma Zahid Bokhari. It is known to all that MNS has a passion for progress and development and he has been rendering valuable advice to the Chief Minister on people-friendly initiatives and plans. Similarly, both Marriyum Aurangzeb and Azma Bokhari are work alcoholic, committed to the cause of the party and deserve appreciation for their role in popularizing the narrative of PML(N) on development and prosperity. It would not be an exaggeration that Maryam Nawaz Sharif did not lose even a single day and has to her credit hundreds of policies and projects that have made an impact on the lives of the people. She has focused on digital transformation, infrastructure, agricultural subsidies and social welfare initiatives, aiming to “level up” Punjab’s development and benefits of these policies are visible in the length and breadth of the province, also in areas that unfortunately remained neglected in the past. As agriculture is the backbone of the province, the CM initiative plans like Kissan Card, liberal loans, diesel subsidy and distribution of tractors leading to increased productivity and amelioration of the lot of the farmers. The latest is the decision of the provincial government to procure wheat at Rs. 3,500 per forty kilogram and release to flour mills at Rs.3,300 simultaneously ensuring welfare of farmers and availability of staple food to the masses at affordable rates. Other popular initiatives of Maryam Nawaz Government include Appni Chhat, Apna Ghar under which construction of 150000 houses has begun for low income families; e-bikes for students on easy instalments with discounted rates for girl students; distribution of over one hundred thousand laptops; introduction of “Honhaar Scholarships” for deserving students and initiation of a youth internship programme; and solar panel scheme aimed at distribution of free of cost solar systems to low income families throughout the province. The CM has to her credit the launch of the world’s largest solid waste management project in Punjab creating employment for around 150,000 people, while ensuring cleanliness in rural areas for the first time. Field hospitals and Clinics on Wheel are delivering quality healthcare services to people at their doorstep while special programmes have been launched for cancer and hepatitis patients. Over 3,000 basic health units have been upgraded into health clinics, while cardiac treatment facilities are now available at the district level. The requirement of body cameras for doctors and medical staff is serving as a deterrence against negligence, inefficiency and corruption in medical institutions. Launch of metro buses and e-buses in different cities and towns are contributing a lot in improving mobility and providing travel opportunities to people at affordable fares. Other important projects include Nawaz Sharif IT City, deployment of women police squads to enhance safety in markets, establishment of virtual police stations aimed at modernizing reporting and response times, and e-taxi scheme. The provincial government is also investing heavily to promote tourism, especially in Murree and Kotli Sattian, which have immense attractions for tourists. In fact, these and scores of other policies and programmes launched by Maryam Nawaz Government have set benchmarks of public service that will be difficult for other provinces and future governments to ignore.
