Maryam Nawaz Says Nawaz’s Opponent Now “Minus” Himself, Delivers Historic Budget Speech in Punjab Assembly

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz declared on Thursday that those who once tried to politically sideline her father, Nawaz Sharif, have now been sidelined themselves due to their poor performance — a fact she said was acknowledged by none other than Aliya Khan, sister of Imran Khan.
Delivering a powerful speech during the Punjab Assembly’s budget session, Maryam Nawaz presented what she called the “largest budget in Punjab’s history” and emphasized that the government had achieved this without imposing new taxes — calling it a “miracle” of effective governance.
“This is not just a budget announcement,” Maryam stated. “We have the highest development fund in history — over Rs 1,013 billion has already been spent on the people, and we have delivered without discrimination.”
She thanked parliamentarians for approving the budget with a majority vote and proudly announced that Punjab’s domestic debt — built over three decades — had been brought to zero in just one and a half years. She added that despite offering a tax-free budget for the second consecutive year, Punjab’s own-source revenue had increased by 50%.
Maryam emphasized expanding the tax net rather than increasing rates and highlighted Rs 30 billion in savings in the Mines and Minerals sector. She credited Mines Minister Sher Ali Gorchani and his team for this achievement.
“We fulfilled the IMF’s surplus target while also saving money — something that required excellent financial management,” she said.
During her address, opposition lawmakers protested loudly, chanting slogans and disregarding the Speaker’s rulings. Responding with a smile, Maryam remarked, “Let them protest. You’ve seen them enough. Now look at me.”
Maryam Nawaz also made indirect political jabs, saying, “Those who said Nawaz Sharif is ‘minus’ are themselves now out of the picture. No one removed them — their own failures did.”
Referring to her development approach, she said, “Every citizen of Punjab has an equal share in our projects, whether from Lahore or the remote areas of Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, or Rahim Yar Khan.”
Maryam further announced the start of a massive clean drinking water project in South Punjab and revealed that the first-ever public cancer hospital, with 1,000 beds and international-standard equipment, is nearing completion and will become operational this year.
She also shared future initiatives, including launching shrimp farming on 5,000 acres and rolling out the Kisan Card, which has particularly benefited farmers in Layyah, Bahawalpur, and Rahim Yar Khan.
“Just like a mother loves all her children equally, I cannot discriminate between any city or district,” she said, emphasizing inclusivity and commitment to all regions of Punjab.
The speech concluded with a video presentation of ongoing development projects, with Maryam Nawaz asserting: “The scale and scope of this year’s budget is unprecedented in Punjab’s history.”