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Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has stated that the province is being unfairly judged and criticized, claiming that it is not short on funds but rather lacks the will to utilize them effectively. Speaking at the National Workshop in Lahore, attended by participants from Balochistan, Maryam Nawaz emphasized that politicians often focus on protocol and politics rather than governance, stating that good governance is the best form of politics. She added that serving the people is the true purpose of politics and that no province should be deprived of resources due to a lack of funds.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that the doors of her heart are open to everyone and that Punjab’s hospitals are treating patients from other provinces, including those in need of heart surgery. She also pointed out that students from other provinces are studying in Punjab’s educational institutions, emphasizing that there should be no distinction based on provincial or ethnic identity.
In a strong statement, Maryam Nawaz claimed that she has not taken a single bribe or favor during her tenure, stating that she has conducted over 30 interviews daily to ensure accountability. She added that the crime rate in Punjab has decreased by 70% during her time in office, attributing this to the effective implementation of the CCPO’s security plan and the efforts of the CCPO’s team.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the success of the “Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar” project, which aims to provide affordable housing to the poor. She announced that the second phase of the project will be launched soon, with the Prime Minister instructing her to expedite the process.
Meanwhile, the Punjab government has released a new transport fare schedule, reducing the prices of diesel and introducing a 50% concession for students and special individuals. This move comes after the prices of diesel were reduced in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following which the new transport fare schedule was introduced.
In other news, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has demoted an officer from the 16th grade to the 14th grade, citing charges of smoking in the office and tampering with CC TV footage. A woman and her child were reportedly abducted from a private university, with the kidnappers posing as medical staff to gain entry to the hospital. The Iranian ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, has expressed concerns about the resurgence of anti-Iran propaganda networks in the country, accusing Israel and the United States of inciting extremist elements.
In a separate incident, a student from the same university where a student had recently taken his own life has been abducted by unknown individuals. The Chief Minister has announced that the deceased student’s funeral prayers will be held in Lahore after the Friday prayers.
In international news, the Prime Minister of Greenland, Múte Bourup Egede, has expressed hope that the country’s relations with the United States will improve, stating that the country’s economic situation is not comparable to that of Venezuela.
