Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering in Mianwali, announced development projects worth billions of rupees for the district. Upon her arrival in District Mianwali of Sargodha Division, she inaugurated a Cath Lab and later addressed a large public meeting.
During her speech, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of a Medical College, an Allied College for Nursing and other health professionals, a Law College, and an Agricultural College in Mianwali. She also declared that the District Headquarters Hospital would be upgraded to the status of a Teaching Hospital. Under the “Apna Khet Apni Zameen” project, she announced the allocation of 300,000 acres of agricultural land to farmers, with up to five acres to be given on a 25-year lease. The announcements were met with loud slogans and applause from the crowd.
Maryam Nawaz began her address in the local language, saying, “Brothers of Mianwali, elders, my daughters and sisters, today I am very happy.” She conveyed the greetings of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to the people of Mianwali and paid tribute to the sisters, mothers, and daughters of the district. She congratulated Ali Noor Niazi on his electoral victory and said that she would respond to the love and trust of the honorable people of Mianwali with even greater service.
She expressed surprise at the enthusiasm of the people who gathered in large numbers at 2 PM, stating that although Mianwali may be far from the map of Punjab, it is not far from her heart. She mentioned that she has visited Mianwali three to four times in the past two years. On her first visit, she searched for signs of development in the district. “I was not born in Mianwali, but my heart belongs to Mianwali,” she said, adding that as the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, she believes in delivering results rather than making claims.
The Chief Minister highlighted that projects like the Green Bus, Suthra Punjab roads initiative, and the Cath Lab were once unimaginable for Mianwali. She noted that heart diseases are increasing and previously patients were referred to Rawalpindi or Lahore, but now treatment would be available at their doorstep. She claimed that the Cath Lab established in Mianwali meets international standards. During her visit to the facility, a laborer informed her that while he had been given a six-month appointment in Faisalabad for heart treatment, he received treatment within 24 hours in Mianwali.
Maryam Nawaz congratulated the people on the Green Bus service, stating that it is completely free for senior citizens, students, and children. Women can travel free of charge in a separate compartment. She rejected the allegations that the PML-N only focuses on Lahore, asserting that development work is now underway in every city of Punjab.
She announced the gift of a Medical College for Mianwali so that local students could become doctors and serve their community. The opening of a Law College will eliminate the need for students to travel to other cities for legal education. She also announced the establishment of an Agricultural College, acknowledging the hardworking farmers of Mianwali who contribute significantly to Punjab’s food production.
The Chief Minister stated that there is no discrimination in her heart for the citizens of Punjab. She remarked that the days are gone when votes were taken from Mianwali and people were left unattended. She promised that the people of Mianwali would no longer need to go elsewhere for their rights and necessities.
Highlighting her government’s achievements, she said that in two years more work has been done than in the previous twenty years. She stated that Punjab is now a safe province for women and warned that any misconduct toward women would not be tolerated. She claimed that 150,000 people have been provided with homes in two years, and 800,000 farmers have received Rs. 250 billion in agricultural inputs.
She said that under the Suthra Punjab initiative, sanitation workers are working equally across the province. She directed the police to treat citizens respectfully and not address anyone disrespectfully. She emphasized that no matter how powerful someone may be, injustice against the public will not be allowed.
Maryam Nawaz announced that unemployed individuals would be given five acres of agricultural land on a 25-year lease along with a Kisan Card, enabling them to cultivate their own crops. She stated that 1.5 million workers have been given ration cards to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry. Across Punjab, 30,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed, and clean drinking water is being provided where it was previously unavailable.
She added that government hospitals in Punjab provide free medicines and surgeries, and patients are even given free medicines at their homes for two months. Stroke treatment is also free in government hospitals. During Ramadan, Rs. 10,000 will be delivered to four million households. She further stated that while only 20,000 tractors were distributed over 25 years in the past, her government has provided 21,000 tractors in two years and plans to distribute 10,000 more. Agricultural machinery worth Rs. 60 billion has been distributed in two years compared to Rs. 3 billion in the past. Financial assistance is also being provided to special persons.
Concluding her speech, the Chief Minister expressed hope that if granted three more years, Punjab’s destiny would be transformed. She assured the people of Mianwali that they would hear good news every day and urged them not to vote for fraudsters. “Punjab’s roads, cities, villages, homes, and hearts will shine,” she said. Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was also present on the occasion.
