LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz addressed the Punjab Assembly amid opposition and informed the House about her government’s initiatives.
It said the Punjab government had completed 100 days while the opposition raised slogans of “Zulm ke ye zaabte, hum nahi maante”. Maryam Nawaz addressed them and told them to sit down or they will have a sore throat.
She further said that the government has presented its first budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, saying that it is the biggest budget in the history of Punjab. She further claimed that no tax was imposed on the people of the province for the first time.
The chief minister said it was impossible for her to summarize the work her government had done in 100 days in a single budget speech. She said she knew the opposition was under pressure because they had something to say. She reminded the House that it was a double challenge for her to lead this government as there were chief ministers like Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif who shaped the destiny of the people of Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz said that after three months of speaking out, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government got an advertisement published in a newspaper claiming that they were busy while they were engaged in seeking revenge and not serving the nation.
She further said that if Imran Khan is given the necessary facilities in jail, including desi chicken and exercise machines, there should be no abuse from them.
The CM said that the implementation of the development plans presented by them will start today after the budget is approved, saying that such a young and educated cabinet has never been seen as the one sitting here. Today’s promises in the budget will be fulfilled within a year. “They should be ashamed of themselves for attacking their own nation,” she noted.
She further claimed that the amount her government is going to spend on health and education has never been done in the past.
Maryam claimed that inflation has come down to a large extent today, adding that people are relieved after years of opposition ineptitude. Flour, bread, sugar, ghee, vegetables and bakery products were reduced and hospitals again started providing free medicines, which the opposition stopped.
She said she inherited Punjab where people were involved in corruption and where no file was processed without bribery.
The CM said that Punjab is the only province where the price of roti has not only come down but is also being uniformly introduced across the province. A 10kg bag of flour cost Rs 1,380 in March, while it is currently available at Rs 800. She lamented that other provinces had announced Rs 12, Rs 13 per roti but could not ensure its availability. She addressed the opposition and asked them to reduce the price of roti in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
She also claimed that the Punjab administration worked for 18 hours, which was called a real service to the people. “The people of Punjab have conveyed their satisfaction to me through messages,” she added. Maryam also mentioned that the ‘Maryam Ki Dastak’ program was launched under which devices were delivered to people’s doorsteps.
This included a historic Ramazan package of Rs 30 billion, while health facilities were delivered at our fingertips. She added that the program started with 10 services and later added 65 more within three months.
The Chief Minister said that key performance indicators were formulated for the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner and she personally presided over their meetings. “All are screened for each indicator and their score cards are maintained. We have also introduced a culture of competition among district administrations,” she noted.
He said that the historical farmers are bringing a package of 400 billion rupees, while the agricultural reforms will provide all the facilities under one roof. Farmers will get one and a half million rupees for interest-free loans, funds for seeds and medicines. I would like to inform the farmers not to be fooled because they will experience great prosperity in the near future.
She further said that a historic package of Rs 400 billion for farmers is being introduced through which agricultural reform will provide all facilities under one roof. She added that farmers will get interest-free loans of Rs 150,000 and money for seeds and medicines. She promised that the farmers will be very prosperous in the coming future.
CM Maryam said that in the first phase of introducing modern agriculture, the government provided threshers and super drills to farmers at concessional rates. In this Rs 8 billion project, the Punjab government is paying 60% and farmers will have to pay the remaining 40%. “We will start the solarization of agriculture,” she announced.
Maryam said that the children of the rich were studying in schools paying fees in crores of rupees and added that Punjab would start schools of the same standard. In this regard, Nawaz Sharif Children’s Library Complex is being established in Lahore, in which he will start primary education, pre-primary education and provide specialized teachers.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Punjab government is going to announce a ‘Himmat Card’ for the disabled so that they do not become a burden on their family. As part of the program, such people get a nice amount of money for three to four months, as well as wheelchairs.
She said there was such poverty that the children did not eat breakfast before going to school and passed out around 11 o’clock. “We are going to launch a ‘free milk’ scheme for children studying in government schools from pre-school to class V. Under this Rs 27 billion project, when schools reopen after summer vacation, all children will get free milk,” she announced.
Maryam Nawaz said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is going to restart the Rs 10 billion laptop scheme. In addition, Google International aims to impart digital skills to more than 300,000 children each year.
She further stated that it was decided to rebuild the school grounds into a community sports field, which would be used by the entire population of the area in the evenings.
The CM said he was launching the biggest tractor project in history with Rs 30 billion. She further stated that she will not be blackmailed by YDA or anyone else. “I will not let patients suffer. Two air ambulances are arriving in Punjab this week,” she added.
