Newly elected Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has extended an olive branch to the opposition, saying that the doors of her office and heart were open 24 hours for them.
Speaking on the floor of the assembly in her first speech as the chief minister, Maryam thanked God and congratulated the speaker and deputy speaker on assuming their respective offices. "I hope that under your leadership, the House will hold democratic values high," she stressed.
She also said that she regretted the absence of the opposition members, saying she wished they were here. "Being democratic workers, we understand how important it is to compete in politics. We have also faced difficult times when every tide was against us, and cruelty and brutality were inflicted on us. But thank God, we did not leave the field," she stressed.
She said she wished the opposition members were present to create commotion during her speech.
"I am a chief minister for everyone, including those who did not vote for me. The doors of my office and the doors of my heart are always open for the opposition," she remarked.
Maryam further thanked the members of the allied parties, the Pakistan People's Party (PP), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), PML-Q and PML-Zia.
The newly elected CM said she thanked the 125 million people of Punjab who voted her to the assembly and vowed to serve them indiscriminately. "My presence here is an acknowledgment of the services of a political worker who endures hardships," she remarked, adding that history had been created today, even if she was minused.
"This is an honour for every daughter of Pakistan, as the first woman chief minister of Pakistan is standing before them today. I pray that this continues after me," she added. "We have reached here after passing through a difficult phase"
Maryam insisted that she did not have revenge against anybody in her heart, and said she thanked those who inflicted cruelty and vengeance upon her. "Despite the hardships, I think the opponents have done me a favour by passing me through the hardships for which there is no substitute."
She shed light on the large number of women in the Punjab Assembly, saying her victory was a win for every woman. "This is proof that being a woman can't be a hindrance to realizing your dreams," she stressed. She said a visionary leader like Nawaz Sharif has sat on this chair the same seat she has got, and from which he made a lot of progress. A three-time prime minister has sat on this chair, adding that he made Pakistan's defence impregnable for the times to come.
"After my nomination, Nawaz Sharif sat with me and prepared a five-year plan. The person whom Punjab remembers as Khadim-e-Ala has also been on this chair. Shehbaz Sharif's abilities, performance, speed are recognized by the whole world."
Maryam acknowledged that most people are being crushed under inflation. "I am not competing with any opponent but the performance of the giants within my party."
She urged everyone to strengthen her beyond the political divide, saying together everyone could serve the people of Punjab. "I want to say to the opposition, if there are any problems in your constituency, I am there just like I am for the PML-N," she said, adding that she was not just the chief minister of the PML-N.
The chief minister announced that she will start implementation on her manifesto from today and go straight to her office from the assembly. She added that her agenda had been prepared, keeping the issues of the people at the front.
She said her vision included making Punjab an economic hub, adding that were the backbone of the economy who will be provided with facilities that had never been introduced before. She said the government's job was not to do business, but to make policy and provide a conducive environment for businessmen.
Further laying out her plans for the people of the province, the chief minister said there was a need to improve the curriculum of government schools, adding that her government will launch Punjab's first air ambulance service. Moreover, every district of Punjab should have at least one Daanish school, Maryam believed, adding that they would restore the educational allowances of the children who worked at brick kilns.
She also said the quality of public school education will be on par with that of private schools. "We will also provide a complete school transport system in the entire province."
She also declared that screening for diseases will be started in the province, adding that when she vacated her office after five years, she wanted a state-of-the-art hospital in every city. She also announced free medicines in all emergency departments of government hospitals from today. The Rescue 1122 service has been asked to launch a motorway ambulance service, while women will get special transport cards, Maryam insisted.
She further said women should get more loans than men and more hostels built for working women. Moreover, she declared that a daycare centre would be built at every workplace. "Women's harassment is my redline."
Maryam also said that she was working on a special package for transgender persons to bring them into the mainstream. adding that helping the needy who were earning less than Rs60,000 was obligatory.
