THIS place feels just like Baku! Looking at a corner of the bustling I-8 centre, Naveen was overjoyed.
To her, the beauty, cleanliness, and well-managed nature of the area could best be compared to the captivating capital of Azerbaijan, where she had recently travelled with her husband, Rayan.
Inspired by Naveen’s comment, Saad and Noor were reminded of their own city and its iconic Clock Tower.
Everyone knows that the Clock Tower is the symbol of Faisalabad.
However, it’s also true that for the last twenty-five years or so, not only visitors from outside the city but even its own residents had lost sight of the tower.
The iconic structure hadn’t disappeared into the smog; rather, the unchecked expansion of commerce, growing encroachments, and chaotic traffic had made it nearly impossible to reach.
But today, the picture is quite different.
All over the world, historical city centres—especially downtown areas—are maintained with cleanliness and care, preserving their charm and accessibility.
These areas are free from unruly traffic and sidewalk vendors who take over roads and pedestrian paths.
Unfortunately, such problems were common here, especially after General Musharraf and his able advisor Tanveer Naqvi dismantled Pakistan’s district management system.
Later, Imran Khan dissolved the elected local bodies, turning not just towns and villages but cities into heaps of garbage.
The extent of the damage can be seen in the case of Lahore.
During his tenure as Chief Minister, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif worked tirelessly to beautify not only Lahore but cities across Punjab.
His efforts greatly enhanced the aesthetic appeal of urban centres and also brought environmental improvements.
However, Imran Khan’s government reversed all that progress by dismantling the elected municipal bodies right after taking office.
The situation deteriorated to the point that the contract with the Turkish waste management company in Lahore was unilaterally canceled.
Understandably, our Turkish brothers were upset.
The then Turkish Ambassador, Mr. Mustafa Yurdakul, even diplomatically expressed his disappointment during an event organized by my friend Muhammad Hassan’s distinguished platform, Turkiye Urdu.
It was in this backdrop that Ms. Maryam Nawaz Sharif took charge of the Punjab government.
Immediately after being elected Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz directed the administration to ensure cleanliness across the province’s towns, cities, and public spaces.
Piles of garbage were not to be seen anywhere.
Once this cleanliness goal was achieved, her attention turned to chaotic traffic and illegal encroachments in major cities.
The result?
Urban centers like Faisalabad’s downtown is not only sparkling clean like glass but also fully accessible.
Markets that used to be clogged with vehicles from morning till night are now open, organized, and aesthetically pleasing.
Clear boundaries have been established indicating where vehicles can go and where pedestrians can walk for shopping and sightseeing.
This is standard practice across the world.
My esteemed colleague and prominent journalist Ammar Masood’s wife, Shanila Masood, once shared that not only has Rawalpindi’s beautiful Bank Square been cleaned up, but areas like Bani, Raja Bazaar, Urdu Bazaar, Saddar Bazaar, and China Market—which were once nightmares to navigate—have become easy to shop in and are now even frequented by tourists.
In Faisalabad, downtown tours are now offered in golf carts, adding to the grandeur and charm of the area.
Maryam Nawaz has not limited her efforts to just beautifying cities.
She has launched several extraordinary welfare programs for the people.
These include the Dhee Rani program for helping families with girls’ weddings, an air ambulance service, the Pink Button initiative, Maryam Ki Dastak, and various programs aimed at women’s empowerment.
In addition, there are programs to improve healthcare, education, and the welfare of farmers and the agriculture sector.
To relieve lower-income citizens from the burden of high electricity costs, solar panels are being distributed.
These transformative policies by the Maryam Nawaz government have completely altered Punjab’s political landscape.
When such visible improvements are made across a province, it’s no surprise that the people of a place like Sialkot’s Sambrial would elect her candidate with a lead of around 40,000 votes.
At the heart of any electoral victory lies performance.
Punjab’s performance under Maryam Nawaz has been exceptional, but the federal government also deserves credit for its accomplishments.
Shehbaz Sharif-led central government not only saved the country from default but also managed to slow down the skyrocketing inflation.
These achievements alone were significant enough to secure electoral success.
However, it was their brave resistance to Indian aggression and effective diplomatic manoeuvres that added golden feathers to this government’s cap.
So if the public decides to fill the ballot boxes for the Pakistan Muslim League (N), it should come as no surprise.
—This writer is former advisor to the President of Pakistan, author & mass media theorist. (farooq.adilbhuta@gmail,com)
