Maryam Nawaz’s Initiatives Being Recognised Across Pakistan, Says Azma Zahid Bukhari

LAHORE: Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s public welfare and development initiatives are receiving recognition across the country, claiming that their impact was also visible in the general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Punjab by-elections.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Azma Bukhari highlighted the Punjab government’s performance under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz.

She said the province’s housing project was making significant progress, with 130,000 houses completed and another 100,000 currently under construction. She added that Maryam Nawaz had also been selected for an international award in recognition of the housing initiative.

Speaking about security and crime control, the provincial information minister claimed that government measures and the Punjab Police’s strategy had resulted in a 70 percent reduction in crime across the province.

She said the Safe City project, which was previously limited to Lahore, had now been expanded across Punjab.

“Some people are jealous of Maryam Nawaz while others learn from her. To those who are jealous, I would say: work hard, don’t be envious,” Azma Bukhari said.

She also criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, claiming that it had attempted to replicate Punjab’s Suthra Punjab Programme but had not been able to implement a similar initiative effectively.

On healthcare, Azma Bukhari said modern cardiac catheterisation laboratories had been established in 20 districts of Punjab, where free and quality treatment for heart patients was being provided. She said the facility would be expanded to the entire province without delay.

The provincial minister also said the number of cancer patients was increasing in Pakistan and announced that the government had decided to establish specialised cancer treatment units in every district of Punjab.