Punjab worked but other provinces played politics over floods: Maryam

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday criticised other provinces for what she described as “playing politics” over the devastating floods.

Speaking at a ceremony in Chakwal where scholarships and laptops were distributed among students, Maryam said: “Punjab witnessed the worst floods, with three rivers overflowing and causing widespread destruction. Sadly, instead of helping, some provinces chose to politicise Punjab’s tragedy.”

She stressed that Punjab’s ministers had remained on the ground with flood-affected communities throughout the crisis.

Criticising the traditional attitude of officials, Maryam remarked: “The job of ministers is not to sit in air-conditioned rooms or drive around in cars. People who are deprived of roads, laptops and free medicines have every right to hold their rulers accountable.”

She announced distribution of 80,000 scholarships next year and establishment of more Centres of Excellence across the province. She announced that students from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would also receive scholarships and laptops under this initiative. To combat malnutrition, she announced provision of dates to students in government schools located in affected areas. She declared establishment of 6,000 STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Mathematics) labs and Schools of Eminence across Punjab. For Chakwal city, she announced launch of electric buses and revealed that 118,000 Core i7 laptops will be distributed to students. She said, “I am delighted to be among students once again. Congratulations to all the talented scholars and laptop recipients. This is not a favour; these scholarships and laptops are your right. Students have earned these through hard work and should receive them with pride.”

She said she personally chose Chakwal as the venue for this prestigious event. She noted, “If it were up to me, I would personally hand over scholarships to every student in Punjab.” She recalled that 30,000 scholarships were distributed last year and deeply appreciated tireless efforts of parents, who despite limited resources, strive day and night for their children’s success. She stated, “Hard times teach us everything. Good times rarely teach anything. My resolve is to stand by every son and daughter of this province.” She mentioned that during the recent flood crisis, the entire provincial cabinet, administration and herself worked tirelessly to aid flood victims, unlike other provinces that only held press conferences. She underscored that the crime rate in Punjab has decreased after establishment of CCD. She emphasized: “We are working to make Punjab such an exemplary province where women feel safe and protected.” She stressed that all scholarships and laptops are being distributed strictly on merit. No student received any benefit due to any recommendation or political affiliation. Over 27,000 applications for laptops were received from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan alone.

She inaugurated Punjab’s first Center of Excellence School in Chakwal, constructed over 40 kanals of land at a cost of Rs650 million. The school is equipped with facilities surpassing private institutions. She highlighted, “I have directed arranging transport for university and college students. Our goal is to eliminate all barriers on the path of attaining education.” She shared her personal journey, mentioning her political engagement starting in 2011 and contesting her first election in 2024. She recalled the hardships she faced, including imprisonment and loss of her mother while imprisoned in Adiala Jail. She emphatically stated that such experiences strengthened her resolve. She also highlighted increased participation of girls in scholarships and laptop schemes, noting that in Rawalpindi Division, female students have outperformed males. She acknowledged social challenges being faced by female students for attaining education and stressed the need for giving them equal opportunities in all fields of life.

She noted, “Laptops and scholarships are means for students to soar further high in every field.” She reiterated her commitment to introducing Artificial Intelligence and Robotics education in Punjab. She cited her visits to China and Japan and pledged to provide similar or better educational environments in educational institutions across Punjab. She announced that state-of-the-art cancer treatment facilities and modern Co-Ablation machines are being introduced in Rawalpindi Division and a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre has become functional in Sargodha.

She revealed that under ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ initiative, 90,000 houses are being built within just 8 months. She concluded by emphasizing that education, health, and infrastructure development remain her foremost priorities, adding that entire provincial resources will be fully utilized to fulfill students’ dreams.

A grand ceremony was held at the University of Chakwal, where students welcomed the CM with standing ovations. Upon her arrival, she expressed delight and mingled with students, sat among them and held conversations. The enthusiasm was palpable, as students eagerly took selfies with her. A visually-impaired student performed the national anthem on piano, and the CM presented him with a special award. In a heartwarming gesture, she personally helped another visually-impaired student off the stage. The emotional atmosphere was further charged with a patriotic song, “Is Parcham ke Saaye Tale Hum Aik Hain”, performed by the students, bringing many to tears. Following her special instructions, a smart police contingent presented the Guard of Honour to the students.

During the ceremony, students Arida Akhtar and Ammar Khalid shared their emotional experiences about laptop and scholarship programs. A documentary film highlighting evolution of the Laptop Scheme was also shown during the ceremony. Maryam distributed laptops and scholarship cheques among meritorious students who expressed deep gratitude and referred to her as a motherly figure. She invited Deputy Commissioner Chakwal Sarah Hayat to the stage and lauded her as a role model for young girls. She was given a comprehensive briefing on the progress and outreach of Honhaar Scholarship and Laptops Scheme, which aims to empower students through technology and financial support strictly based on merit. She was briefed that in phase one, 40,000 students were given Core i7 13th generation laptops. In phase two, 33,311 students will be given laptops. Scholarships are being given to students of government universities, colleges, medical and dental colleges on merit. In phase one of Honhaar Scholarship Program, 30,000 scholarships have been given. In phase two, 20,000 scholarships will be given to students of BS third and eighth semesters, MBBS second to fifth semesters. As many as 153,000 applications have been received for Honhaar Scholarships. Out of 130,000 verified applications, 20,000 students will be given scholarships according to merit. In phase three of Honhaar Scholarship, scholarships will be given to students of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Scholarships will be given to 11,510 students from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 4,763 from Balochistan, 1,544 from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,338 from Gilgit-Baltistan. Laptops will be given to 2,535 students of Rawalpindi Division, 1,888 students of public sector universities, 207 students of government colleges and 440 students of medical universities.

It was further informed in the briefing that 886 scholarships worth Rs3.22 crore will be given in Rawalpindi Division. As many as 803 students of government universities will get scholarships worth Rs2.97 crore, 52 students of government colleges will be given scholarships worth Rs700,000 and 31 students of medical colleges will be given scholarships worth Rs2.97 crore. Students of Rawalpindi’s Pir Mehr Ali Shah Barani University, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi Women University and Rawalpindi Medical College are being given scholarships. Students from Taxila University of Engineering and Technology, University of Chakwal and Kohsar University will receive scholarships. Students from government colleges in Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock and Chakwal will also be given scholarships.

Maryam was accorded a warm welcome upon her arrival in Chakwal. On her way, large crowds gathered along the roadside, showering her with flowers. Party workers holding party flags, lined the streets to greet her. She waved to the public and responded to their slogans with a smile and gesture of appreciation. Some young supporters arrived on decorated horses to welcome their leader, while women and children gathered in large numbers on both sides of the road.

The chief minister inaugurated the Centre of Excellence for Boys Campus in Chakwal. She advised the students to study with dedication and aim to make their country proud. She stated, “My heart desires to build 10 to 15 Centres of Excellence in every city across Punjab.” She also planted a tree to formally launch a plantation campaign at the campus.

She was given a comprehensive briefing on the Centre of Excellence project. The authorities briefed her that the Chakwal campus has been established on 40 kanals of land at an estimated cost of Rs640 million. They apprised that the state-of-the-art campus facilities include modern IT and science laboratories, a multipurpose hall and a high-quality stadium. The campus also provides clean drinking water and hygienic washrooms for students. Additionally, all students are provided free textbooks.

Meanwhile, on the CM’s directive, a flood survey has been launched across Punjab to compensate flood victims. She congratulated the PDMA, district administration and other stakeholders for early start of flood survey. She directed commissioners, deputy commissioners and assistant commissioners to support and monitor the survey teams. She was briefed by the authorities that 1,429 flood survey teams had been mobilized in flood-affected areas in 26 districts of Punjab. The diligent and dynamic members of 1,429 flood survey teams are reaching the flood-affected areas. They said, “Flood survey teams have collected data of 27,500 people in a few days. They have also completed survey of 48,071 acres of flood-affected land, besides obtaining data of 8,305 houses destroyed by the flood. They apprised Maryam that the survey teams had obtained records of 1,712 livestock killed during the flood. A survey to estimate losses of flood victims in Kasur would start from October 1.