Maryam Nawaz Says Leadership Is Challenging, Highlights Punjab’s Development and Welfare Initiatives

LAHORE:Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has said that leadership comes with daily challenges and immense responsibilities, adding that she remains undeterred by criticism and draws inspiration from her father, whom she described as a guiding light and a vast source of experience.

Addressing participants of the Common Training Programme during a visit by a delegation from the Sindh government, Maryam Nawaz said the country had invested in its people by providing them with recognition, opportunities and a foundation for progress.

“I proudly say that I am made in Pakistan, educated in Pakistan and live in Pakistan,” she said, stressing that public office required commitment, hard work and timely decision-making.

The chief minister said becoming chief minister was not simply about arriving at the office, having tea and returning home in the evening. Every decision made by the chief minister could affect the lives of millions of people, leaving little room for wasting time.

She said she strictly followed schedules, attended meetings on time and considered time one of the most valuable assets. She added that she felt the day had been wasted if no decision or project was introduced to improve people’s lives.

Maryam Nawaz said public office required courage, calculated risk-taking and a willingness to make difficult decisions. She urged public officials to shoulder their responsibilities fully and return the trust placed in them by the country.

Reflecting on her political journey, she said she had never held a public office before becoming chief minister and had not even served as a councillor. She acknowledged that reaching her current position had required considerable hard work, particularly within her own political party.

She said women had previously been underrepresented on the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) platform, whereas women now made up approximately half of the participants on the party’s stage. She encouraged women to strengthen their professional skills and believe they could achieve anything others could accomplish.

The chief minister said professionalism required keeping personal emotions separate from official responsibilities. She added that decisions affecting public welfare had to be made firmly and at the appropriate time.

### Housing and merit-based governance

Highlighting the Punjab government’s housing initiatives, Maryam Nawaz said the *Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar* programme had received the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award in Muscat for its low-cost and sustainable housing model.

She claimed that more than 200,000 housing loans had been issued within 18 months and that 125,000 houses had been completed under the programme.

She said she had pushed for a nine-year instalment period to make repayments more affordable for beneficiaries. According to her, the scheme had a recovery rate of 99.9 per cent, with no reported defaults.

Maryam Nawaz said public money had to be protected against fraud and that the government had introduced safeguards to ensure transparency. She described public confidence in government programmes as a new social contract between the state and citizens.

The chief minister also said more than 100 schemes were operating in Punjab and claimed that appointments of deputy commissioners, district police officers and other officials were made on merit rather than political recommendations.

She said she personally conducted interviews for senior appointments and sometimes asked psychological questions to assess candidates. Although political pressure existed, she maintained that she did not entertain recommendations for appointments.

### Healthcare and services at citizens’ doorsteps

Maryam Nawaz said the state should reach people in need instead of forcing them to stand in queues or repeatedly visit government offices.

She highlighted the Punjab government’s healthcare initiatives, including 1,000 Clinics on Wheels and 32 field hospitals, saying these services were bringing medical facilities closer to millions of people.

She added that health workers were collecting household-level data and that arrangements had been made to deliver two months’ supplies of medicines, including those for cardiac conditions, hepatitis and insulin-dependent patients, to eligible households.

The chief minister said the government had also launched an ambulance service to transport deceased patients from hospitals, adding that she had personally observed the service in operation.

She said the Dastak mobile application had enabled more than four million people to obtain services such as birth certificates without unnecessary visits to government offices.

Maryam Nawaz also highlighted initiatives for women’s safety, including mobile police stations, emergency panic buttons in ride-hailing vehicles, rickshaws, schools and colleges, and assistance for victims of cyber harassment without requiring them to disclose their identities publicly.

### Transport, public safety and environmental protection

The chief minister said 700 buses were serving commuters and that women, students and senior citizens could travel free of charge on electric buses. She announced that one hundred thousand electric scooters would be provided to girls in November to facilitate their mobility.

She added that passengers facing harassment on the Orange Line train could call the police emergency number 15, with officers expected to respond at the next station.

Maryam Nawaz claimed that crime in Punjab had declined by 70 per cent due to the Crime Control Department (CCD). She also said she expected swift action against suspects accused of sexual violence against women and children.

Discussing environmental measures, she said brick kilns and industrial chimneys were being monitored through live surveillance and that a forest protection force was working to safeguard green areas. She also claimed that smog had not occurred during the current period, contrasting the situation with previous years.

The chief minister said Safe City cameras were operational throughout Punjab and had helped authorities detect crimes within seconds.

### Flood relief and national responsibilities

Maryam Nawaz said approximately five million people had been affected by floods in Punjab and that the government had treated displaced residents like honoured guests.

She also praised the Pakistan Army, attributing India’s difficult position to the courage and bravery of the country’s armed forces.

Concluding her address, the chief minister said Punjab’s large population meant that its government could not afford to neglect any major public issue. She stressed that healthcare, security and other essential services all required urgent attention.

She said a healthcare system could not be considered successful if patients had to travel three hours to another city to receive treatment. Similarly, she warned that public confidence in the state would decline if citizens did not feel safe.

Maryam Nawaz said she personally followed up on development projects to ensure their completion, adding that effective governance required continuous monitoring, timely decisions and a commitment to improving people’s lives.