THE PML(N) demonstrated its parliamentary majority in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday as 218 newly elected Members of the Provincial Assembly (MPAs) gathered at Jati Umrah in Lahore to repose full confidence in the leadership of Maryam Nawaz, who has been nominated as the party’s candidate for the office of the Chief Minister of the province. Addressing the participants, the nominated-CM presented a comprehensive roadmap to reform and overhaul almost all aspects of governance, resolve day-to-day problems of the people at their door-steps, provide relief to the poor and the needy and put the province on an accelerated path of progress and development.
The meeting put across a clear cut message to all concerned that the PML(N) will have a smooth sailing in Punjab, where it enjoys a comfortable majority and that developments and initiatives in the province will have a bearing on the fate and future of the PML(N)-led federal government. The speech of Maryam Nawaz was also reassuring in that it conveyed a vivid impression that the next Chief Minister and his team were fully alive to the challenges ahead and have a comprehensive programme to address them to the satisfaction of the people. The plans and targets she unfolded for different sectors and amelioration of the lot of the people showed the party is geared up for the challenging task and has already started its homework to deliver without wasting of much time. A number of problems facing citizens can be resolved through good governance and mindful of this fact, Maryam categorically declared that bad governance, poor performance, corruption and attempts to take the law into one’s own hands would be her red-lines. Similarly, transfers and postings remain a highly politicized issue with allegations of palm-greasing for lucrative postings but here again she vowed to make transfers and postings strictly on merit. There have been consistent complaints that the method to count people as deserving under poverty alleviation programmes is highly flawed as countless people have been left out and in this backdrop it is satisfying that a fresh survey would be conducted within the next three months and Ramzan package would be delivered at the doorsteps of the people. Cleanliness has become a serious issue not only in urban centres but also in villages due to rapidly increasing population and a change in the life-style. The nominated Chief Minister announced to launch a province-wise well-coordinated programme for garbage lifting, pavement of streets and provision of clean drinking water. Garbage disposal, cleaning and sweeping was being done in some cities in a highly professional manner by a Turkish company but the previous government discontinued the arrangement and entrusted the responsibility to WASA, which has miserably failed to deliver. Similarly, roads and streets of almost all cities and towns especially those of Rawalpindi are in dilapidated conditions as contractors of gas, telephone and water companies do not bother to carry out legally-binding repairs after completion of development work. This aspect would need special attention of the CM as people suffer not because of lack of resources but collusion of relevant departments and contractors. The plan to improve and upgrade health institutions, re-introduction of health cards and launching of an air ambulance service would surely go a long way in improving the situation in the health sector. We hope a similar programme would be launched to improve educational facilities, ensure quality education in public sector institutions, properly train teachers and resolve problems of the teaching staff. The idea to establish five IT cities in Punjab in five years has the potential to revolutionize the economy of the province and one hopes it would be implemented on priority basis. We may propose that in case the Federal Government spares the services of the incumbent Minister for IT and Telecom Dr. Umar Saif, he may again be assigned the task of IT development in Punjab as it was because of his leadership qualities that Punjab excelled in the field during previous tenures of the PML(N). Special attention is also needed for industrialization and promotion of agriculture on scientific lines as this is the surest way to tackle poverty, improve living standards of the people and move towards the cherished objective of a prosperous Punjab.
