Punjab governance security improvements under Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz stated that governments that perform well should be allowed to complete their five-year terms to ensure policy continuity. She made the remarks while addressing a delegation of the National Command Authority Senior Officers Leadership Course on Thursday, outlining security and governance achievements in the province.

Maryam Nawaz claimed that terrorism had been brought under control in Punjab. She said the province previously had around 70 areas regarded as 'no-go areas' but claimed there was no such area now. The government had strengthened security infrastructure, particularly in border areas, by establishing fortified posts and providing weapons and night-vision cameras. Round-the-clock surveillance to detect terrorist activity has been established. She acknowledged that the threat of terrorism had not disappeared and said the provincial government remains prepared for any possible attacks.

"I am responsible for the safety of 140 million people, so I had to take decisions that had not been taken before," Maryam Nawaz said. She added there were occasions when she had to choose between protecting herself or protecting the people, and she had always prioritised the public.

On governance, she said the Punjab government had established separate groups for administration and law and order. The government had dismissed around 1,000 police and revenue officials as part of measures against corruption. Sustained action had created a fear of the law among officials demanding or accepting bribes, she claimed. Special attention was being given to crimes against women and children. Virtual police stations for women unable to visit police stations, particularly victims of domestic violence, have been established, dealing with hundreds of thousands of cases.

Governance and policy continuity

Maryam Nawaz credited PML-N’s extended rule over Punjab for ensuring policy continuity, leading to better governance. She said governance standards had improved because the PML-N had remained in government in the province for longer periods. She insisted she ensures 100 per cent merit in Punjab and neither accepts recommendations nor do people now approach her with them.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari stressed the importance of policy continuity. She said Chief Minister Maryam’s clear stance is that governments may change, but the national vision and policies aimed at public welfare should not change. Bokhari insisted that the country’s development was a shared responsibility of all, not any single province, government, or political party. She argued that if a policy introduced today is abandoned tomorrow merely because of a political change, the country cannot move forward. Pakistan needs a consistent national vision and continuity of policies instead of short-term political agendas.

Public service and infrastructure initiatives

Maryam Nawaz detailed a wide array of development projects. She cited the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing programme, which the UN-Habitat has included among the five best housing projects globally. According to her, 130,000 houses have been completed while another 100,000 are under construction. The government has set a target of constructing 500,000 houses in five years.

In transport, electric buses are now operating in small and large cities, with the fare fixed at Rs20 irrespective of fuel price fluctuations. More than 40,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed or repaired. For healthcare, residents are receiving medicines for heart disease, hypertension and diabetes at their homes. The Maryam Ki Dastak initiative has delivered 4.3 million services at people’s doorsteps. She said all 15,000 children who had been awaiting cardiac surgeries in Punjab have now been operated upon, with children from other provinces also receiving free treatment.

On technology and environment, the Safe City Authority, initially established in Lahore, now operates in 40 districts. Cameras are used for security and to identify garbage and other civic problems. She claimed Punjab has planted five crore trees. Measures to control smog have produced results, with industrial chimneys monitored through live cameras and artificial intelligence used to identify affected areas. The government has also created a socioeconomic registry covering the province’s population and developed a Punjab One Map system providing access to different categories of data. Decades-old sewer lines are being rehabilitated. Young people have been provided loans ranging from Rs1 million to Rs20 million for self-employment.

Maryam Nawaz also commented on national unity and security institutions. "We are Pakistanis first, regardless of whether we belong to Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan or Gilgit," she said. She stated that Pakistan’s 'excellent image and new face' had emerged before the world during the recent conflict with India and that the army and other security institutions were rendering invaluable services for the country’s defence. Good governance and performance were essential to tackling internal security threats. The Punjab government has set a target of constructing 500,000 houses in five years.