Maryam Nawaz has the courage to take tough decisions

There is a significant difference between delivering speeches in the name of the public and actually taking meaningful actions for their welfare. Appealing to the emotions of the masses is certainly an easy task. Many individuals claim to represent the people, yet those who genuinely work for their welfare are far fewer. In Pakistan today, such practical governance is most visible in Punjab.

Since the government of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz took office, the people of Punjab have begun to experience a sense of relief. The government is now reaching out directly to citizens at their doorsteps, whereas in the past people had to run from office to office and still struggled to get their issues resolved. Today, citizens are receiving assistance while sitting in their homes.

A clear and recent example of this approach is the transparent and merit-based distribution of the Ramazan Nigehban Package. The Punjab government has introduced the largest Ramazan relief initiative in Pakistan’s history, worth Rs 40 billion. Impressively, the government has already achieved nearly 95 percent of its distribution target.

Under this initiative, eligible citizens were provided Ramazan Nigehban Cards strictly on merit. Notably, these cards were not distributed by ministers, advisers, or members of the National or provincial assemblies. Instead, administrative officers and government staff ensured that the cards reached deserving individuals directly.

According to the latest figures, the Punjab government has provided more than 3 million cards to district administrations across the province. Out of these, over 2.802 million cards have already been distributed, and more than 2.525 million beneficiaries have withdrawn the financial assistance through these cards. This achievement represents almost 95 percent completion of the government’s targeted outreach.

In addition to this financial relief, the Punjab government has also launched “Maryam’s Mehmaan Dastarkhwan” across the province. For the first time in Punjab’s history, the government has established 422 public Iftar tables where thousands of citizens break their fast daily during Ramadan.

Traditionally, the arrival of Ramadan often triggered a surge in inflation. However, under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz, the provincial government has managed to effectively contain price hikes. The Chief Minister’s team has played a vital role in keeping inflation under control throughout the holy month.

Special Assistant Salma Butt, along with Secretary Kiran Khurshid and their departmental team, has acted as the frontline force in implementing the Chief Minister’s directives. In the past, ministers and senior officials often remained confined to Central Punjab, leaving southern districts with little oversight, which resulted in uncontrolled price hikes.

This year, however, Salma Butt and Secretary Kiran Khurshid personally visited districts across South Punjab, ensuring the availability of fruits, vegetables, and essential food items while also maintaining strict price control.

For perhaps the first time in recent memory, flour has remained affordable during Ramadan. Fruits and vegetables are available at prices within the reach of the common citizen, and even green spices are being sold at significantly lower rates.

Salma Butt has played a particularly critical role in ensuring that fruits and vegetables are sold according to official price lists. Even while fasting, she visited markets across Punjab—moving from city to city and street to street—to inspect prices and the quality of goods.

While Ramazan bazaars are providing subsidised goods, Salma Butt focused more on regular markets, where most citizens actually shop. Shopkeepers found overcharging beyond the official price list faced immediate action, including the sealing of their shops.

On the media front, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari has successfully managed communication and public outreach. Throughout Ramadan, the Punjab Information Department has played a key role in informing the public about the Chief Minister’s initiatives and relief measures. Maryam Nawaz herself has acknowledged and appreciated Azma Bukhari’s performance in this regard.

Previously, the arrival of Ramadan would bring anxiety among citizens due to rising prices. However, under Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, people have experienced genuine relief as essential commodities remain easily accessible and affordable. This is what effective governance and the writ of the state truly look like.

When a leader has the courage to make difficult decisions and the authority to ensure their implementation, the system responds accordingly. One of Maryam Nawaz’s most defining qualities is precisely this—she not only takes tough decisions but also ensures that they are implemented without hesitation. When it comes to the welfare of the people, she shows no compromise.

The bureaucracy in Punjab has also come to understand this reality. As a result, officers across the province are working with greater dedication and responsibility to fulfill their duties.

This is why Punjab today is leading other provinces in multiple sectors. The people of Punjab are expressing growing confidence in the leadership of Maryam Nawaz because her decisions are guided by the real needs of the public—and she ensures that those decisions are effectively carried out.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026