Maryam Nawaz, Punjab’s chief minister nominee from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has announced her five-year plan for the province.
Maryam told the media following the PML-N’s parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday that “a new era will usher in Punjab.” I congratulate the PML-N on its win [and majority in the Punjab Assembly].
If elected, Maryam will be the first woman to serve as chief minister in Pakistan’s seven-decade history. She will take over the province, which has a population of over 127 million people, more than half of Pakistan’s total.
“This was a difficult election, and I thank the people of Punjab for giving us a clear majority.We will establish records for service; I haven’t rested since the election results; we will all have to work together,” she continued.
Maryam, who is the PML-N’s senior vice-president and main organiser, said it was a “huge honour” to be nominated as Punjab’s first chief minister and dedicated it to the “daughters, mothers, sisters, and reserved seats’ women.”
The CM nominee stated that the province faces “major challenges” in health care, education, and municipal governance. “There’s also a huge issue of sewage, clean water in rural areas.”
Maryam informed the newly elected MPAs that in order to ensure development in each lawmaker’s seat, Punjab’s 297 constituencies must be viewed as 297 districts.
“I worked on the Safe Punjab Programme; we need to expand the Safe City Project to all cities. “We will build model women police stations to improve the environment for women,” she stated.
She stated that her government would address the traffic situation in Lahore. She committed to develop five IT cities across the province, lamenting the lack of such cities around the country.
“We will also deliver marriage, death, and car certificates to people’s homes,” she stated, adding that her government will offer interest-free loans to young people. “We’ll redesign health cards and ensure treatment at private and public hospitals.”
