CM Punjab announces Ramzan relief package, free medicines

LAHORE: Punjab’s first woman chief minister, Maryam Nawaz in her maiden speech has asserted that she had no feelings or wish for revenge adding that her appointment is an honour for every woman in the country.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz was elected as Punjab’s chief minister amid a boycott by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) of the polls.

Maryam, who has become the first-ever female chief minister in Pakistan’s history, won the elections after receiving the backing of 220 MPAs in the provincial assembly.

Her opponent, Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate Rana Aftab Aftab Ahmad, did not get any votes as the party boycotted the elections after they were stopped from speaking.

In her victory speech, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz thanked God and her supporters in her maiden speech at the provincial legislature.

“Today, I am upset that the respectable members of the opposition benches are not present here […] I wish they would be a part of the political and democratic process,” she said.

“I want to give a message to the opposition: the doors of my chamber and heart will always remain open for them as they are for my party members,” she said in her maiden speech.

Earlier, PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council MPAs boycotted the election of the CM.

She outlined that the PML-N’s key objective during her tenure would be the provision of employment, education and healthcare. Announcing Ramzan relief package for Punjab, Nigheban, she said it includes essentials worth Rs6.5 to Rs7 million which would be distributed to the public in packages during Ramazan.

 “The package will be delivered to their doorstep.”

Maryam added that market places providing essential items at subsidised rates will also be set up.

Paying tribute to her father who she said “handheld” her from the general elections till the position she was in today.

“From the day I was nominated as Punjab CM, Nawaz Sharif chalked out a five-year plan for the province and gave me valuable advice every day,” she said.

“I want to take this moment and tell the youth that you should respect your parents […] because the prayer of our parents takes us to the position where we never envisioned to be,” Maryam added.

She also vowed to take forward the legacy of the PML-N.

She also announced free medicines at all emergencies of government hospitals, with immediate effect.

Maryam Nawaz has asserted that she had no feelings or wish for revenge.

Maryam Nawaz makes history as Punjab’s first female CM

“I want to thank those who put me in difficulties, which included death cells, court visits, incarceration of my father and the death of mother […] but despite all this, I feel indebted to my adversaries.

“Today, where I am standing, it is all because of this struggle,” she said.

Newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said her appointment is an honour for every woman in the country and hoped that the tradition of female leadership would continue in the future as well.

“Being a woman, a daughter will not come in the way of your dreams,” she said.

Vowing to work for not just the MPAs who voted for her but also those who didn’t vote for her.

Maryam recalled that despite several challenges and difficulties, her party members and the PML-N never left the ground empty.

“If the opposition was present today, and if they had protested during my speech, I would have been happy,” she said.