LAHORE: President PMLN and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will interview all candidates for the upcoming by-elections and issue party tickets to the suitable candidates.
In this regard, the PMLN president presided over an important meeting in Murree in which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif participated. Matters pertaining to by-elections along with distribution of party tickets were comprehensively discussed in the meeting. Senator Pervez Rashid, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Rana Sanaullah, Azam Nazir Tarar, Ameer Muqam, Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar, Anusha Rehman, Dr Tauqeer Shah, Rashid Nasrullah and other leaders also participated in the meeting.
PMLN sources said the meeting also discussed the people-friendly policies of the Punjab government and performance of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The PMLN leaders expressed their satisfaction that Maryam Nawaz’s people-friendly policies and projects have significantly increased popularity of the party.
Sources added that the PMLN President Nawaz Sharif directed the PM and CM Punjab to take more steps related for welfare of the common man. Separately, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan is the homeland to all and everyone is safe and free to practise his/her faith. “We pay tribute to all our minority brothers and sisters who have always remained active in the development and prosperity of our beloved homeland,” she said.
In her message on National Minorities Day, the chief minister said minorities are a source of pride for Pakistani society. “There will be no compromise on the honour, dignity, protection, and progress of minorities. The Punjab government is strictly adhering to its policy of granting minorities their full rights in education, development, and welfare,” she asserted.
Maryam Nawaz highlighted that, for the first time in history, Punjab has introduced the “Minority Card” for the welfare of minority communities. “Fifty thousand minority brothers and sisters are being provided Rs10,500 quarterly through minority cards, and this number will be increased to 75,000,” she said.
She said, “Punjab attained the honour of passing the first Sikh Marriage Act 2024, giving legal status to ‘Anand Karj.’ The pending Hindu Marriage Act 2017 was approved in 2025. The Punjab government is taking numerous steps to ensure easy access to education, healthcare, and employment for the minority community.”
She revealed that in the current financial year, Rs8 billion have been allocated for the development and non-development budget of minority communities. “Grants for religious festivals of minorities have been increased from Rs60 million to Rs360 million. A substantial amount has also been earmarked for the restoration of 40 historical gurdwaras, 25 churches, and five temples,” she added.
Maryam Nawaz said that the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in Lahore, the Shri Krishna Temple in Rawalpindi, and the Church of Pakistan are being rehabilitated and restored, while Rs60 million have been allocated for scholarships for minority students.
She mentioned that live courses have been launched in Youhanabad, benefiting 1,000 students in the first phase and 10,000 in the second phase. “Baisakhi, Holi, Diwali, Christmas, and Easter were celebrated at the official level in Punjab for the first time. The minority quota system is being implemented in letter and spirit across the province,” she added.
She reaffirmed, “The Punjab government is the guardian of minority rights and is fully committed to granting them their rightful share in every field of development and progress. We are moving towards a society where love, tolerance, and brotherhood will be our hallmark. Minorities are the beautiful colours of Pakistan, and we will never let these colours fade.”
The chief minister has taken notice of the alleged torture and murder of a 13-year-old maid in Gujranwala. She has sought a report from the RPO and extended heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family.
“The accused involved in this heinous incident must be arrested immediately, and stern action should be taken according to the law. Those who committed such a dreadful act against an innocent girl do not deserve any leniency under any circumstances. Justice will be ensured for the heirs at all costs,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz has expressed deep grief and sorrow to the leadership and people of Turkiye over the loss of precious lives and property in the severe earthquake that struck the Turkish province of Balikesir. She vowed, “The Punjab government and the people of Punjab stand with their Turkish brothers and sisters in this hour of need and difficulty.”