CM Maryam announces Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence in Jhelum on Dec 15

LAHORE, Nov 10 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced that the Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence in Jhelum would become operational on December 15, while Green Bus services would be launched in Dina, Sohawa and Pind Dadan Khan in January.

Addressing a ceremony for the distribution of Honhaar scholarships and laptops among students in Jhelum, the chief minister said her government was executing billions of rupees worth of development projects across the province, with every penny of public money being spent on public welfare and development, said a handout issued here.

She said she would not spare any minister if evidence of corruption emerged against them, adding that she pursued every reported case of corruption in Punjab relentlessly. She also vowed to recover public money from those who had betrayed public trust. “I am not claiming that corruption has been completely eliminated, but whenever I come to know about corruption in Punjab, I pursue the matter relentlessly,” she said, adding that accountability was essential to ensuring transparency in public spending.

The CM said her government believed in performance rather than rhetoric, adding that the PML-N had repeatedly returned to power because of its public service. People voted for service and performance rather than political narratives, she added.

Referring to the Lillah-Jhelum Road project, she criticised the previous government for failing to complete it during its four-year tenure, saying that those who had not delivered projects in the past were now claiming credit for development initiatives.

CM Maryam Nawaz said her government was committed to fulfilling the aspirations of young people and providing them with opportunities to excel. Addressing female students, she urged them to move forward with confidence and not allow anyone to discourage them from pursuing their ambitions. She said she felt grateful to Allah when she watched videos of students receiving laptops, adding that young people should hold laptops rather than sticks, stones and bombs. She congratulated the students and their parents, saying that deserving students were being rewarded for their hard work.

The CM said more than 100,000 scooters were being provided to students across Punjab, with proper training for recipients, while free travel facilities were also available to students on Green Buses across the province. She added that 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence were being established across Punjab. These institutions would have air-conditioned classrooms, modern laboratories and highly qualified faculty, she said, challenging critics to identify public-sector schools elsewhere in the country offering comparable facilities. She said 50,000 schools across Punjab were providing education to millions of children, describing education as the best investment and every child as an ambassador of Pakistan.

CM Maryam Nawaz said her government had ended the practice of concentrating development projects in major cities, adding that smaller districts were also receiving equal attention. Green Buses operating in Lahore and Rawalpindi were the same as those running in Khushab, Layyah and Bhakkar, she said, adding that thousands of kilometres of roads had been constructed across the province.

The CM said patients were receiving free stents, pacemakers and other cardiac treatment at the Jhelum Cath Lab. She added that cath labs had been established in 25 smaller districts, while Punjab’s largest public-sector cancer hospital was being constructed in Lahore.

Citing an example, she said a driver working in Dubai had travelled from Faisalabad to Jhelum on his sister’s advice to receive a heart stent, reflecting the improved availability of cardiac treatment in smaller cities.

She further said loans had been provided for the construction of 250,000 houses under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme over the past one-and-a-half to two years. Recalling her meeting with a woman in Jhelum, she said the beneficiary had previously paid Rs15,000 in monthly rent but was now paying Rs14,000 as an instalment for her own house.

The chief minister said the housing initiative had enabled hundreds of families with limited financial resources to build their own homes within months. She also praised the newly developed market in Jhelum for its facilities and beauty.

Emphasising merit-based governance, she said her government had established a system in which no personal reference or recommendation was required to access public services or secure government employment. Deserving candidates, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds, were being given opportunities on merit, she added.

Referring to the alleged assault of a salesgirl at a garment shop, CM Maryam Nawaz said the person responsible would face a strong response from the police. She said the provincial government stood with ordinary citizens and would not tolerate the misuse of influence or arrogance of power. “No influential person can dare to assault a poor citizen now. Arrogance of power will not be tolerated under the Maryam Nawaz government,” she said.