CM Maryam responds to corruption allegations, highlights Punjab projects
The Punjab chief minister made these remarks while addressing a scholarship and laptop distribution ceremony at Government Comprehensive High School in Jhelum.
She said voters judge political parties by their performance rather than political speeches, criticism or promises.
Maryam pointed to the PML-N’s recent victories in local elections in Sahiwal and Gujranwala, saying opposition parties had joined hands against her political group.
“No matter how much you talk or how many claims you make, if you have not served the people, there comes a day when you are deprived [of public support],” she said.
Maryam responds to corruption allegations
The chief minister also responded to allegations of corruption against the Punjab government and questioned why critics who were part of the government had not resigned.
“If some people have objections and are levelling allegations of corruption against the Punjab government, why don’t they resign from the cabinet?” she asked.
Her remarks appeared to refer to recent corruption allegations made by Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik.
Maryam defended her government's development projects, claiming that no corruption had taken place in projects worth trillions of rupees launched over the past three years.
She said she was accountable to the public for every rupee spent by the government and would take action against any minister or official if evidence of corruption or bribery was presented.
“I have not said that corruption has completely ended in Punjab,” she said.
Maryam added that she did not want to comment on the performance of other provinces because their governments were responsible for answering to their own people.
However, she claimed that Punjab was the only province where the chief minister pursued a new corruption case every day.
She also said political criticism was increasing as the next elections approached, but she would remain focused on development work.
Punjab expands transport and education projects
Maryam said her government had moved away from the old practice of spending most development funds in major cities.
She highlighted the expansion of the Green Bus service to Jhelum, Khushab, Layyah, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan.
According to the chief minister, the government was working to provide better transport and infrastructure facilities to people across Punjab.
She also discussed the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence project, saying these government schools would offer facilities similar to those available at expensive private institutions.
The schools will have air-conditioned classrooms, computer laboratories, artificial intelligence laboratories and science laboratories, along with qualified teachers.
Maryam praised Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat for his efforts to improve the education sector.
She announced plans to establish 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence and said work on the project in Jhelum would begin on December 15.
Free heart treatment and cancer hospitals planned
The chief minister also announced plans to establish cardiac treatment facilities in 25 cities where such medical services were previously unavailable.
She said patients at government hospitals would receive several heart treatments free of cost through catheterisation laboratories, commonly known as cath labs.
These services would include angiograms, angioplasty, stenting and pacemaker implantation.
Maryam also said cancer hospitals were being established in every divisional headquarters to improve access to treatment.
She added that the country's first government-run cancer hospital was under construction in Lahore.
Political tensions over corruption allegations
The chief minister’s remarks come amid growing political debate over corruption allegations against the Punjab government.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had claimed on Friday that Chaudhry Salik’s allegations were part of efforts to prepare the ground for an “alternative arrangement”.
The exchange has added another layer to the political tensions surrounding the Punjab government.
Maryam Nawaz is using development projects, education and healthcare initiatives to defend her government's performance.
Her remarks also show that corruption allegations remain an important issue in Punjab politics.
However, the impact of these claims will ultimately depend on the evidence presented and how voters judge the government's performance.
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