Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced on Thursday the launch of the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence, designed to offer world-class education to underprivileged students. These institutions will feature IT laboratories and libraries to enhance learning opportunities. She emphasized the importance of political awareness among students, encouraging them to make informed decisions in the future.
Speaking at the inauguration of the provincial government’s education reforms, Maryam Nawaz stated that these schools would serve as exemplary institutions, with plans to expand their presence to every tehsil across Punjab. She also touched upon the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections during her address.
Highlighting the education reforms, the chief minister described them as revolutionary steps aimed at modernizing the sector. The government is committed to elevating Punjab’s education system and fostering local talent. A key objective is to bridge the gap between public and private schools by upgrading government institutions to provide facilities and environments comparable to private counterparts.
Teachers at the Schools of Eminence will receive international-level training to improve educational standards. Maryam Nawaz remarked that previous governments neglected the education sector, although government schools had once been highly regarded. Punjab currently has 49,000 schools, with 10,000 already upgraded under the new initiatives.
She announced the allocation of the highest-ever education budget in the province’s history, underscoring the state’s responsibility to equip students with necessary resources. To support students lacking financial means, the government will distribute iPads and laptops. Additionally, 100,000 electric bikes will be provided free of cost to students across Punjab, with boys required to pay a Rs15,000 down payment, while girls will receive the bikes without any initial payment.
Maryam Nawaz pledged to cover resource shortages for daughters whose families cannot afford them. The plan includes constructing 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools throughout Punjab, ensuring each tehsil has access to these institutions. The Honhaar scholarship program will also support students pursuing university education.
Empowering women remains a priority, with 500,000 daughters receiving training. Young individuals aspiring to study abroad have been granted training and financial assistance amounting to Rs300,000. Maryam Nawaz expressed gratitude for the public’s support, stating her government has delivered tangible results rather than empty promises over the past five years.
In a significant development, she urged the people of Azad Kashmir to vote for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the upcoming elections. She cautioned against supporting parties whose leaders are indifferent to the people’s hardships. Maryam Nawaz affirmed that constitutional methods are essential for resolving issues and pledged to initiate development projects throughout Azad Kashmir, ensuring peace and stability in the region.
The chief minister highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects in Punjab, including the construction of attractive markets in cities and tehsils, road widening in districts such as Sheikhupura and Kasur at a multi-billion-rupee cost, and the establishment of public parks across the province. She appealed to citizens to act responsibly by avoiding littering and maintaining cleanliness, especially on green buses.
Addressing housing and agriculture, Maryam Nawaz noted that the WASA water system currently serves only 40 districts. She emphasized local drainage solutions to avoid reliance on distant resources. Under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme, 200,000 houses are being built within two years, with 700 houses constructed daily. The program will expand to 500,000 houses. Citizens can access loans up to Rs500,000 for roof repairs and Rs1 million for building three-room houses, repayable over nine years in easy installments.
Furthermore, 30,000 families are being granted agricultural land leases at Rs100 per year, while young farmers can acquire up to five acres at Rs50,000 per acre. The new Apna Khet Apna Rozgar scheme aims to support farmers in Punjab. The government is also constructing 40,000 kilometers of roads across districts, including paved village roads, and launching metro bus projects in Faisalabad and Gujranwala.
Maryam Nawaz concluded by announcing plans to build Pakistan’s first state-of-the-art hospital in Punjab, marking a major advancement in healthcare infrastructure.
