LAHORE, Dec 06 (APP/DNA): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that the metro bus project is the legacy of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. She expressed these views while addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Gujranwala Mass Transit System on Saturday.
Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government was committed to advancing the vision of development set by Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Taking your vision forward, the Punjab government has decided to launch two new metro projects—one in Gujranwala and the other in Faisalabad,” she added.
She highlighted that with the grace of Allah Almighty, fears regarding Pakistan’s economic default had been eliminated, and the focus had now shifted toward economic progress and stability.
The chief minister said that during her visits to DG Khan and Mianwali after assuming office, she found no signs of development in those areas. However, significant progress was now underway, with new roads, overhead bridges, and a functional green bus service in Mianwali. She added that in Gujrat, a new sewerage and drainage system worth Rs 30 billion was being installed, and the area would witness major improvements within six to eight months.
Questioning the performance of the previous PTI government, she asked what had been accomplished in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last 12 years.
Maryam Nawaz detailed ongoing development initiatives in Punjab, including the construction of 112,000 houses under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme, of which 45,000 had already been completed. She said Forbes magazine had recognized Suthra Punjab as the world’s largest waste management programme, which launched simultaneously across all districts and had lifted 50,000 tons of waste so far.
She said the Punjab Development Program was active in all 38 districts and that 2,600 model villages would be established this year. In Lahore alone, 16,000 new streets would be completed by year’s end, along with beautification plans for every district. She added that in the past 12 months, 20,000 km of roads had been constructed, with another 10,000 km to be completed by June next year.
The chief minister said tourism and heritage corridors were being developed across Punjab. Over the past year and a half, 80,000 Honhaar Scholarships had been awarded, and 100,000 laptops distributed. Missing facilities in public schools would also be addressed soon, she said.
In the health sector, she announced the construction of the first Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore—a 100-bed facility that would provide free treatment to all Pakistanis. She added that 1,000 “clinics on wheels” and field hospitals were delivering healthcare services at people’s doorsteps.
A Nawaz Sharif Medical District would soon be established near the Lahore Ring Road, she said.
Maryam Nawaz also announced that 750,000 farmers had received Kisan Cards as part of efforts to modernize Punjab’s agricultural landscape. She said the Himmat Card was supporting persons with disabilities, while the Minority Card was providing financial assistance to underprivileged non-Muslim communities.
She noted that due to the efforts of the Crime Control Department, crime in Punjab had decreased by 80 percent, and strict action against drug dealers was underway to make the province drug-free.
The chief minister reiterated that transparency and merit were being strictly implemented in all government departments.
Regarding the Gujranwala Mass Transit System, she said it would be a 31.2-kilometer-long corridor from Aimenabad to Gakhar, completed in 12 months at a cost of Rs 63 billion.
