LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has firmly rejected calls for an apology to the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), asserting that it is the PPP’s spokesperson who should apologise for criticising Punjab’s flood relief operations.
“Why should I apologise? It is my duty to protect the people of Punjab, their honour and their property. Maryam Nawaz will never apologise,” she declared while addressing the inauguration ceremony of Lahore’s new electric bus project.
Her remarks come amid escalating tensions between the PML-N and PPP following disagreements over flood compensation through the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and the dispute over a canal project on the Indus River.
Transport and Welfare Announcements
The chief minister announced that 70 more electric buses would be added to Lahore’s fleet by December, raising the total number of buses across Punjab to 500 with the inclusion of Sheikhupura and Kasur.
She also revealed plans to distribute two million ration cards offering a monthly stipend of Rs3,000. Special relief cards for differently-abled individuals have already been issued to 60,000 citizens, with a target of 100,000 beneficiaries.
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Flood Relief and Law and Order
Recalling Punjab’s flood rescue operations, Maryam said the provincial government had assisted 2.5 million flood victims, providing them with food, shelter and vaccinations.
She claimed that the Crime Control Department had curbed serious crimes across the province. “When I took oath, murders, rapes and robberies were common. Now we have significantly reduced the crime rate,” she asserted.
Vowing to make Punjab safer—especially for women—she said, “We need to make Punjab a place where people can sleep peacefully.”
Implicit Criticism of Sindh Government
Without directly naming Sindh, Maryam criticised another province for targeting Punjab during floods, stating that Punjab had always extended support to other provinces during disasters. She added that despite offering assistance to KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, she was mocked in response.
She also defended the controversial canal project, saying it was funded entirely through Punjab’s budget but was being opposed for political reasons.
