CM says defamation notice being sent to federal minister over allegations

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that a defamation notice was being sent to the federal minister over the baseless allegations.

The chief minister said a federal minister from Gujrat had alleged that cupboards in Punjab were filled with money earned through corruption.

“Trillions of rupees are being invested in development projects in Punjab, with individual projects worth Rs300 billion each. I can take an oath before these children that I have not committed corruption of even a single rupee,” she said.

While addressing a laptop and Honhaar Scholarship distribution ceremony at COMSATS University, Attock, the CM added that she was answerable to the people and Allah Almighty if any wrongdoing was established, and challenged those making allegations to provide evidence instead of spreading false accusations.

Referring to criticism of the previous government of Pervez Elahi, she said people had witnessed a situation in Gujrat where even vehicles like Land Cruisers were submerged in rainwater. She had personally seen people travelling to their homes on trolleys because motorcycles and cars could not move through the flooded streets. However, after a year and a half to two years, Gujrat no longer faced such water accumulation, by the grace of Allah Almighty, she said.

Maryam Nawaz said the real issue was not corruption but the displeasure of certain people over the appointment of a deputy commissioner of their choice in Gujrat. She said the Punjab government was now working on 100 per cent merit. “I do not appoint deputy commissioners on recommendations because that would amount to a breach of trust. Those appointed through recommendations undermine the country,” she said.

The CM ordered the provision of transport for the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila.

She said the students receiving laptops and Honhaar Scholarships were the cream of Punjab, adding that she had personally travelled to Attock as a mother to celebrate their achievements. Parents feel immense pride when their children succeed. The students are receiving the reward of their hard work and are entitled to it; there is no need for them to express gratitude, as they should claim their rightful due with dignity.

Maryam Nawaz said children who overcame financial constraints through hard work and achieved success deserved appreciation. Today’s students would shape Pakistan’s destiny tomorrow. She had come to present her government’s performance report rather than point out the shortcomings of others.

She cited the example of a girl facing financial difficulties following her mother’s death, whose financial problems were resolved after receiving the Honhaar Scholarship. Every scholarship recipient had a story of struggle and determination. She met a student whose father was a labourer and who was delighted to receive the scholarship.

In the past, many talented students could not continue their education despite their abilities. However, no student would now be deprived of education due to a lack of funds, she said.

The chief minister announced that an electric bike project for students would also be launched in the coming days, with pink bikes for girls and black bikes for boys. The initiative would facilitate students’ daily commute. She said the law and order situation had been improved to ensure the safety of girls travelling independently on bikes. “Every son and daughter in Punjab enjoys a sense of security. Everyone knows that they are safe in Punjab. Punjab is the only province providing laptops, scholarships and electric bikes to students,” she said, adding that the province also honoured its students with a Guard of Honour.

Maryam Nawaz said development came to a halt as soon as one crossed Punjab’s borders, where neither colleges nor roads had been built and public transport facilities remained unavailable. “I am not a mother who merely points out problems; I work day and night to resolve them,” she remarked.

Expressing satisfaction over the educational initiatives in Attock, she said she was delighted to see a Grammar School alongside a Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence upon entering the district. She said 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence were being established across Punjab, equipped with air-conditioned classrooms, AI labs and science laboratories. She described the Schools of Eminence as an educational revolution, saying their standard was even better than that of grammar schools.

The chief minister said she loved every child of Punjab as much as her own children. “I share a bond of the heart with these children. They embrace me and sometimes cry with happiness,” she said, recalling how a student in Mandi Bahauddin had told her that she was crying with joy because she wanted to meet her.

She said people considered her one of their own, which was why they expressed such affection. “This is a relationship of love and affection, a bond of hearts. Those who indulge in unnecessary criticism cannot understand this relationship between me and the children,” she said.

The chief minister said 850 kilometres of roads had been constructed in Attock alone by the grace of Allah Almighty. “Everyone knows who introduced Green Buses here and who established bus terminals,” she said.

She added that Schools of Eminence were being established across the province, the standard of education was improving, medicines were being provided free of charge in hospitals and free treatment facilities were available.

She said loans had been disbursed for the construction of 250,000 houses across Punjab. Referring to a retired subedar, she said he had a plot but lacked the resources to build a house. After receiving a loan of Rs1.5 million, he was able to construct his own home.

Maryam Nawaz said Attock had received little attention in the past and used to look more like a village than a city. However, a beautiful market had now been developed there. She said millions of laptops and scholarships had been distributed without discrimination. No one could claim to have received a laptop or scholarship through favouritism. Neither political affiliation nor recommendations or money played any role in the selection process. She said students did not need to approach any chief minister, minister or secretary to obtain a laptop or scholarship, as deserving candidates were receiving their rightful benefits through a transparent process.

The chief minister urged students to go home and express gratitude to their parents by touching their feet. She advised them to respect their parents and never speak rudely to them, even when angry. Respecting parents, she said, brought blessings and honour.

She also sought a commitment from students to keep their streets, neighbourhoods, buses and cities clean. She said 200,000 workers were engaged in the Suthra Punjab programme, but even two million workers would not be able to maintain cleanliness if people continued throwing garbage in public places. She called upon citizens to join hands to keep their streets, neighbourhoods and cities clean.

The chief minister urged the youth to pledge that no matter what anyone said, they would never take up arms against their country and nation. “I have heard people saying, ‘What is there in Pakistan?’ I say that everything is in Pakistan,” she said, urging the students to pledge that they would never allow the national flag to be lowered.

She prayed that Allah Almighty grant Pakistan and its people progress by leaps and bounds and enable the children to fulfil their parents’ dreams.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026