“I did not want to be a politician,” CM Maryam says in Chakwal address

CHAKWAL: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the National School of Excellence, in Chakwal. She also distributed laptops among female students on the occasion.

Addressing the attendees after the ceremony, CM Maryam narrated the stories of female students that she has been meeting during these laptop scheme events. She recounted being told that a young female student who had lost her father in an accident was told that her dreams to do higher studies were not achievable. “My duty here is to fulfil those dreams of young girls,” CM Maryam added.

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In her address, she also talked about her own experiences as a young woman in Pakistan, and as a daughter who had to step when her parents were “politically targetted”. She said for someone like her, it is a significant achievement to become a provincial chief and she wishes the same significant growth trajectories for all young female students.

“I did not even want to become a politician,” she said, “but when Panama case was launched against my father, I did what all daughters here would do, stand up and say ‘over my dead body’, and defended my father.” She also candidly spoke about the emotional toll of losing her mother while being imprisoned in Adiala Jail.

She said that since joining politics in 2011 and contesting her first election in 2024, her father has always regarded her as equal to his sons. She opened up about the hardships she endured, including two jail terms without any fault, describing her jail cell in June and July as “hot like a tandoor.” She credited her time in jail with preparing her for public service.

Turning the conversation back to the laptop scheme and educational endeavours of the government, CM Maryam informed the attendees that this year, a total of 1.2 million laptops will be distributed across Pakistan, including in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Balochistan. Congratulating the students who received laptops and scholarships, she called these rewards the rightful recognition for talented students. “The students of Chakwal have made their parents proud,” she added.

Responding to questions about the ceremony’s location, Maryam Nawaz said, “Some suggested the ceremony should be held in Rawalpindi, but I said it was already held there. In my view, Chakwal holds equal importance as other cities.”

Reflecting on the government’s educational initiatives, the Chief Minister noted that last year, 30,000 scholarships were awarded, a number which has now increased to 50,000. “It is the responsibility of the government to reach the doorsteps of capable and intelligent children,” she said.

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On security and governance, Maryam Nawaz highlighted improvements since she took office as the chief minister. “When I took oath, the crime rate was high, but after the formation of the Crime Control Division (CCD), crime has drastically decreased,” she said, proudly noting that no major crimes have been reported in Punjab for many days.

She also stressed her commitment to meritocracy, saying, “I do not accept recommendations in any appointment and have abolished the culture of recommendations in favor of merit.”

Web Desk