Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz addressed the Punjab Assembly amid opposition clamour and informed the House about her government's initiatives.
She stated that 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 their throats will get sore.
She further said the government had presented its first budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, claiming it to be the largest 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 did in 100 days in a single budget speech, She said she knew the opposition members were under pressure because they had something to say. She reminded the House she had said it was a double challenge for her to run this government as there had been chief ministers like Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif here, who shaped the destiny of the people of Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz stated that after three months of performance, the former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government had got an advertisement published in the newspapers claiming to be busy, while they were engaged in seeking revenge and not in serving the nation.
She further said whether Imran Khan gets the necessary facilities in jail, including desi chicken and exercise machines, there should be no abuse from their end.
The CM said that the implementation of the development plans they presented will commence today following the approval of the budget, adding that such a young and educated cabinet has never been seen as the one sitting here. The promises made today in the budget will be fulfilled within a year. "They should have been ashamed of themselves when they were attacking their own nation," she remarked.
She further claimed that the amount her government was going to spend on health and education has never been done in the past.
Maryam claimed that inflation had been reduced to a great extent today, adding that people had heaved a sigh of relief after years of the opposition's incompetence. Flour, bread, sugar, ghee, vegetables, and bakery products have all come down and hospitals have once again started providing free medicine, which had been stopped by the opposition.
She said she had inherited a Punjab where people were involved in corruption, and where no file is processed without bribery.
The CM said that Punjab is the only province where the price of roti has not just been reduced but is also implemented uniformly in the entire province. A bag of 10kg flour cost Rs1,380 in March, whereas it is currently available at Rs800. She lamented that other provinces announced Rs12, Rs13 per roti but could not ensure its availability. Addressing the opposition, she 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 real service to the people. "The people of Punjab have communicated their satisfaction to me through messages," she added. Maryam also mentioned that a program, 'Maryam Ki Dastak', had been started under which facilities were delivered to the doorsteps of the people.
This included the historic Rs30 billion Ramazan package, while health facilities were delivered at the doorstep. She added that the program started with 10 services and later 65 more were added to it in three months.
The chief minister said that key performance indicators have been formulated for the deputy commissioners and commissioners, and she personally presided over their meetings. "They are all examined on each indicator and their scorecards are maintained. We have also introduced a culture of competition among district administrations," she remarked.
He stated that historical farmers are bringing a package of 400 billion rupees, whereby agricultural reforms will provide all facilities under one roof. Farmers will receive one and a half lakh rupees for interest-free loans, funds for seeds, and medicines. I would like to inform farmers not to be seduced by anyone, as they will experience great prosperity in the near future.
She further said that a historic Rs400 billion farmers package was being introduced through which agriculture reforms will provide all facilities under one roof. She added that farmers will get Rs150,000 interest-free loans, and money for seeds and medicines. She vowed that farmers will be very prosperous in the coming future.
CM Maryam said that in the first phase of the introduction of modern agriculture, the government was providing threshers and super seeders at discounted prices to the farmers. In this project of Rs8 billion, the Punjab government is paying 60%, and the farmers will have to pay the remaining 40%. “We are going to start agriculture solarization,” she announced.
Maryam said that the children of the rich studied in schools by paying millions of rupees in fee, adding that Punjab will launch schools of the same standard. In this regard, the Nawaz Sharif Children's Library Complex is being established in Lahore, in which they will start elementary education, pre-school learning, and arrange specialized teachers.
The chief minister also announced that the Punjab government was going to announce a ‘Himmat Card’ for the handicapped, so they did not become a burden on their family. Under the scheme, such people will get a good amount of money for three to four months as well as wheelchairs.
She said there was so much poverty that children did not have breakfast before going to school and fell unconscious around 11am. “We are going to launch a ‘free milk’ programme for children studying in government schools from pre-school to Grade V. Under this Rs27 billion project, when schools reopen after summer vacation, all children will get free milk,” she announced.
Maryam Nawaz said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was going to restart the laptop scheme at Rs10 billion. Additionally, Google International is going to impart digital skills to more than 300,000 children every year.
She further said that it was decided to convert school grounds into a community sports grounds, which would be used by the entire population of the area in the evenings.
The CM said they are starting the biggest tractor scheme in history with Rs30 billion. She further declared that she would not be blackmailed, whether it is the YDA or anyone else. “I will not let patients suffer. Two air ambulances are coming to Punjab this week,” she added.
