Lahore, June 27, 2025 – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, in a spirited address to the provincial assembly on Friday, declared that those who once pushed for the political exclusion of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had now sidelined themselves — not through external actions, but due to their own poor governance.
“Those who chanted ‘minus Nawaz’ are now themselves minus,” she said, referencing recent remarks by Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan. “Even Aleema Khan has acknowledged this,” she added.
Maryam criticized past political practices, particularly the use of South Punjab as a tool for power games, stating that her government had moved past mere rhetoric.
“False promises to South Punjab were a political tactic used to build and break governments. We have left that behind — we are delivering,” she asserted.
She announced the launch of Punjab’s largest clean drinking water project, which will begin in South Punjab. Her remarks were met with noisy protests from the opposition, to which she responded calmly:
“Let them protest. I respect their democratic right.”
Presenting what she termed a historic and tax-free provincial budget worth Rs 5,335 billion, Maryam praised Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil for preparing a budget aligned with the economic vision of Nawaz Sharif.
She claimed that her government had nearly eliminated domestic debt that had persisted for nearly three decades — without introducing any new taxes, relying instead on expanding the tax net. Public spending, she added, had risen by only 3%, while employees’ pay and pensions had been increased.
Addressing recent national developments, CM Maryam Nawaz congratulated the armed forces and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for what she called a national victory over India, praising both the military and diplomatic efforts. She also strongly condemned Israel’s recent strikes on Iran and reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with the Iranian people.
Reaffirming her commitment to equitable development, she said:
“Every district — whether it is Bhakkar, Layyah, Rajanpur, D.G. Khan, or Rahim Yar Khan — will receive the same share of development as Lahore.”
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that her political competition was not with opponents, but with the legacy of her own family.
“My benchmark is Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif. I am competing with them in delivering service to the people,” she said.
She also credited the Mines and Minerals Department with achieving Rs 30 billion in savings, highlighting the government’s efficient financial management.
