Police waited but no one showed up for protest: Maryam

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday took a jibe at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), stating that despite its nationwide protest call for August 5, not a single demonstration took place on the streets.

“The IG Punjab kept waiting, but no one showed up,” she remarked, apparently mocking PTI’s failed protest attempt demanding the release of its jailed leader.

She made these comments while addressing a ceremony at the Expo Centre, Lahore, marking the launch of a new phase of Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing scheme. Under the next phase, the Punjab government is not only constructing houses but also providing land to deserving families. Highlighting the changing political landscape, the chief minister declared: “The politics of fitna, chaos, arson and destruction has been buried by a governance model based on public service and relentless hard work.” She added that Pakistan’s political and military leadership was now united and sincere, and the country was witnessing a resurgence on both diplomatic and economic fronts.

Speaking passionately about the housing initiative, Maryam said the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar project is especially close to her heart. “No family will be evicted again for failing to pay rent. Since its launch in October-November, 45,000 houses are under construction and 9,000 have already been completed,” she said. “If I could, I would personally go and congratulate every family that has built a home.”

She said the Punjab government had set a new record in the history of Pakistan by building 62,500 houses in just six months. The CM said, “Public has also set a record of 99.9pc recovery in loan repayment.” More than 52,000 houses are under construction. She promised with people to provide them one lakh houses every year. Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz took a trial ride on Pakistan’s first urban electric train, the Super Autonomous Rapid Transit (SRT), marking a significant milestone in the province’s push for modern and eco-friendly public transport.

The CM was informed that the SRT, already operational in countries like Turkey and China, has a capacity of 320 passengers and can travel up to 40 kilometres on a single charge. In Abu Dhabi, three bogies are currently in service, out of a potential four.