Journalist Told Me He Was Surprised by My Success, Says Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the office of chief minister is not a bed of roses, stressing that running a government is far more challenging than many people assume.

Addressing a gathering of officers from the Sindh Administrative Service, she said Allah had placed her in a position where every day brought new challenges, but she was grateful for the opportunity to make decisions that could change the lives of millions of people.

Maryam Nawaz recalled that a journalist had told her, “You have surprised us. We could never have imagined that you would become so successful.”

She said she received more criticism than praise but did not allow it to affect her. She added that she went to sleep every night after attending to around 30 phone calls.

The chief minister said that holding a position of responsibility often meant losing sleep because of the burden of decisions and public expectations. However, she considered it a privilege that her decisions could have a meaningful impact on millions of lives.

Punctuality and discipline in governance

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted the importance of punctuality and discipline in government affairs.

She quoted the chief secretary as saying that, in the past, a chief minister’s meeting could consume an entire day, with a meeting scheduled for 10am often starting no earlier than 12:30pm.

She said she had adopted a different approach, adding that if she had to arrive somewhere at 10am, she would reach the venue by 9:55am.

“Doing easy things is easy, but I have refused to adopt that approach,” she said, emphasising that meetings scheduled for 10am under her administration would begin on time.

She also criticised the practice of making people wait for hours outside the chief minister’s office, saying she had seen situations in which around 20 people were kept waiting for two hours. She added that even some ministers summoned people to meetings and then forgot that they were waiting outside.

‘Proud to be born and educated in Pakistan’

The Punjab chief minister stressed that serving the public was a responsibility of those who had benefited from the country’s education, training, recognition and respect.

She said she had been born, raised and educated in Pakistan and was proud to be Pakistani.

Maryam Nawaz criticised those who questioned what Pakistan had given them and spoke of moving abroad, saying the country had provided its citizens with dignity and opportunities.

She noted that she had received her own education in Pakistan, although her children had studied abroad.

“Whenever I visit another country and am asked where I studied, I proudly say, ‘Born in Pakistan, Made in Pakistan,’” she said.

She urged administrative officers to fulfil their responsibilities by working in the field and serving the public, emphasising that public office should be used to improve people’s lives.