PML-N Senior Vice President Maryam Nawaz Wednesday said there is a “clear majority”, close to 2/3 majority, of the party in the Punjab Assembly.
Addressing a party meeting in Lahore’s Jati Umra, she congratulated PML-N MPAs on their successful election and praised the inclusion of young MPAs among the lot.
Maryam, who is now going to be the chief minister of Punjab — the first-ever woman to serve the coveted post in the country's history — has pledged to the people of the province to "live up to" their expectations while fulfilling her duties as the provincial chief executive.
She was nominated as the party's candidate for the coveted slot after her victory from both the national and provincial assembly seats — NA-119 and PP-159, respectively — in the February 8 general elections.
The Punjab CM-hopeful thanked the people for giving her party "the mandate" and brought it success as the single biggest political party to have the majority in the 2024 polls.
"Your trust and support are my real assets," Maryam asserted, praying that she could serve the people in the "best way possible".
The PML-N leader also said that she wants to dedicate the honour of becoming the "first woman CM" to every mother, daughter and sister of the country.
Sharing her plans for the governance of Punjab, she said that the party has devised a roadmap of its priorities at the government and party level.
"The MPAs will be my arms and strength. The 297 constituencies of Punjab will be districts for me," Maryam said.
She further stated that health, education, infrastructure, law and order, agriculture, information technology and all other sectors will have equal focus.
She said Punjab was known for its progress and service and they will set new records of public service.
She said Punjab was treated like a stepchild during the PTI era.
She alleged that during the PTI era, bribes had to be paid for everything and even a huge bribe had to be paid for transfer and postings.
She said new stories of corruption have been created in the health card system.
She said the new government has big challenges.
Maryam said they will treat all 297 constituencies of Punjab as districts and will work on war footings in Punjab.
She said Safe city project will be spread throughout Punjab and the system of police stations will be improved.
She also announced to build five IT cities in the province.
Maryam said they had devised a comprehensive agenda for the development of the province.
She said they will provide youth interest free loans and people will have access to the official document at their doorsteps.
She also vowed to bring revolutionary changes in the health sector by overcoming the shortage of doctors and starting air ambulance service in the province.
She said the biggest challenge is to provide clean water to villages and they will overcome this challenge as well.
The Punjab-CM hopeful also announced to bring specialized healthcare facilities in every city of the province and will also improve the efficacy of the teaching hospitals.
She also announced to give free-of-cost facility to people for hepatitis and TB screening.
She also vowed to improve the education standard in the province by improving the syllabus and upgrading the primary and secondary schools.
Maryam thanked her party and supporters and vowed to take Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif's experience as the former prime minister and ex-Punjab chief minister, respectively, in leading the provincial.