Lahore, December 3, 2024- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz emphasized that addressing political turmoil is a greater priority than simply managing the city’s waste. Speaking at the “Suthra Punjab” event in Lahore, she criticized the state of the province she inherited, noting the deterioration of infrastructure and public services after the departure of Shahbaz Sharif’s government.
“Roads once built by Shahbaz are now in disrepair, the cleanliness system is failing, hospitals are struggling, and free medicines are no longer available,” she remarked. She also pointed out the decline of the Metro Bus system, adding, “If Shahbaz Sharif’s government had continued, Punjab would have been a different province.”
Maryam introduced a revamped waste management system designed to streamline garbage collection from homes to landfills. She announced ambitious plans under the initiative, including the creation of 100,000 new jobs within a week, the cleaning of roads, and the procurement of modern sanitation equipment.
However, she stressed that the real issue lies in the “political mess” left behind. “Calls for protests, violence, and destruction have repeatedly failed to garner public support. Each time they called for people to kill, burn, or destroy, no one showed up in Punjab. I didn’t see more than a couple dozen people at their rallies,” she said.
Maryam contrasted these attempts with her own political rallies. “When I led protests, people joined willingly, and no one could stop them. We never broke a flowerpot or caused damage to public property,” she stated, reaffirming her stance on the right to peaceful protest while condemning violence.
Referring to the aftermath of the May 9 events, Maryam said trust in opposition protests has eroded. “Protests are allowed, but they must not be armed. People should engage in dialogue, not violence,” she asserted. She described visiting CMH, where she saw injured police and Rangers personnel. “Is this what public protest looks like? Bones broken, lives at risk? The mastermind of these actions is now in jail.”
Maryam also accused opposition leaders of orchestrating violence under the guise of protests. “They hired individuals, armed them, and paid them to incite chaos. They even claimed thousands were killed but later reduced the figure to hundreds. Where are the bodies? A video of Bushra Bibi fleeing surfaced, but there’s no evidence of their claims.”
She criticized the previous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, alleging that public funds were misused to finance terrorism. “The people of KP’s money went into violence, not development. Show me one legitimate protest they’ve held since 2014,” she challenged.
The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating her commitment to rebuilding Punjab, both politically and structurally, ensuring the province’s long-term stability and growth.
