Since 2018, Punjab, the most populous province of Pakistan, has been devoid of effective government. The governance of this crucial position of power has been severely hindered by Usman Buzdar’s lethargic leadership, the power struggles that ensued in the Punjab Assembly following his departure, and the prolonged tenure of an unelected caretaker chief minister, Mohsin Naqvi. Now that elections are almost here, Maryam Nawaz is a strong candidate for the position of chief minister, which is the top office in the traditional heartland of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
In many respects, Maryam Nawaz’s struggles over the past several years have served as the ideal political training ground for her significant position.Punjab is a big province with a wide range of requirements, growing economic inequality, unrealized economic potential, and an odd blend of traditional and modern. To recognize these demands and realize this potential, a strong leader with a dynamic style is required. Shehbaz Sharif was the last leader in Punjab to show competent leadership. Whether by accident or design, Maryam Nawaz, the most recent recruit to the PML-N leadership levels, has assumed the mantle of chief minister after his son Hamza Shehbaz, a valuable party organizer, was unable to perform with the same effectiveness in that role.
