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Maryam’s wise move
That Maryam Nawaz struck a reconciliatory note in her maiden address to the Punjab Assembly as Chief Minister, was a breath of fresh air. By all accounts the inaugural session of the provincial legislature gave the impression of a fragmented and deeply divided house.
Maryam Nawaz is the fourth person to hold the office from her family. She is also the first woman Chief Minister of the biggest province of the country. She has announced a series of focused projects meant for the economic and infrastructural development of the Punjab. A dedicated school transport system aimed at getting more children into school by lifting the transport barrier has been a game changer in other countries around the world. It would also go a long way in reducing vehicles on the road and cutting emissions.
Similarly, plans to introduce daycare at workplaces will help bolster females in the workplace and a continued commitment but effective digital policies will also provide employment opportunities in an economy rife with unemployment.
The focus must be on building public transport infrastructure over roads and underpasses. Local governments need to be empowered and the government should have a singular focus on improving health, education and other quality of life indicators for those in the most desolate parts of the province.
Maryam Nawaz is taking over the reins of Punjab with an opposition that is unlikely to grant her a honeymoon period. If the latest election has proven anything, it is that her party’s position has been severely weakened. If she is to restore the League’s fortunes as the heir to Mian Nawaz Sharif, she must rebuild its reputation for no-nonsense good governance. And to do that, her reconciliatory tone must be translated to earnest actions. Performance would only be a good answer to her commitments.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
The resilience of democracy
The people of Pakistan have shown their trust in the democratic system on the occasion of the general election held on 8th February in Pakistan. They went to the polling stations to choose their representatives. These elections are significant because they were not just a competition for power among the political parties but they were against the status quo. The people of Pakistan have largely rejected the traditional elite.
Turnout in these elections was historic and the number of young voters, aged 18 to 35 years, was around 47 percent. The role of females in this democratic transition is also very encouraging. Not only did they vote but a record number of women contested in this general election and broke all the religious and social stereotypes. The trust shown by the young generation in the democratic system and their contribution to the general election hints at the brighter future of democracy in Pakistan.
NAYYAR RANJHA
Sargodha
Ichra bazaar tricking
Women in Pakistan play a crucial role in various aspects of society, contributing to the nation’s progress and development. Despite challenges, Pakistani women have made significant strides in education, politics, and the workforce. A recent incident at Ichra Bazaar, Lahore, on 26 February 2024, where one of our lady Police officers, ASP Shehrbano Naqvi, being benevolent, successfully rescued a woman wearing a dress with Arabic calligraphy printed on it from a mob attack in Lahore, makes me realize how badly we need to educate ourselves as Pakistanis.
Just imagine how damaging it is to witness illiterate individuals, who do not even comprehend the meanings of the words printed on the dress, subjecting the poor woman to mental torture and endangering the life of an innocent citizen. A vacuum in responsible and sensible leadership creates room for such madness to occur. If we had honest leadership grounded in Shariah, it would officially and correctly enforce “Amar bil maroof wa nahi anil munkar” (encouraging good, forbidding the bad), thereby preventing religious vigilantes from taking the law into their own hands based on their narrow assumptions.
UNZILA TAHIR HUDA
Karachi
