Tag: Maryam Nawaz

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has given Traffic Police authorities 30 days to improve Lahore’s traffic system during a meeting that focused on modern traffic management, road safety and administrative reforms.

Maryam Nawaz said on Friday that authorities must improve traffic management in Lahore and all other cities. She warned that no one will receive special treatment. “Everyone will pay fines for violations,” she said. 

She criticised the performance of the traffic police and warned that the government will form a new department if officials fail to deliver. 

She said, “This is the last chance for the traffic police. If they do not perform, we will create a new department. We fixed everything, yet the traffic situation remains terrible. Traffic violations and disorder weaken the state’s authority.”

Officials briefed the chief minister that Lahore will receive a decisive 30 day deadline to bring major improvements. They noted that the 60-year-old traffic act has undergone twenty major reforms. 

Under the new rules, repeated traffic violations will lead to vehicle auctions. Government vehicles that break the law will face heavy fines. The province also received a 30-day grace period to eliminate wrong way driving.

Authorities also approved a decisive crackdown on underage driving. In such cases, vehicle owners could face up to six months in jail. Traffic police will also act against transporters who place passengers on bus rooftops.

The meeting also decided that Qingqi rickshaws will be completely banned on five model roads in Lahore. Marriage halls must arrange proper parking and any venue that fails to provide parking will not be allowed to operate.

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has responded to criticism over firing of Mayo Hospital’s medical superintendent (MS) during her surprise visit to the hospital last month, a video of which had gone viral and drawn mixed reaction from the public.

Addressing the first passing-out parade of the Environment Protection Force on Wednesday in Lahore, the Punjab CM said that after she fired the MS and the principal, the media was flooded with criticism against her action.

CM Maryam said that she herself deeply respected doctors who served their country, but could not let anyone burden poor patients.

“When I raided the hospital’s basement, there were boxes filled with medicines that doctors were telling patients to buy from outside the hospital,” she said, adding that patients were being forced to buy medicines from selected pharmacies outside the hospital.

“When I have reserved around Rs100 billion for free medicines for those seeking treatment at government hospitals, how dare anybody tell poor patients to buy costly medicines from outside?”

Last month, the provincial chief executive had received flak after she fired Mayo Hospital’s MS Dr Faisal Masood over “negligence” during her surprise hospital visit, which was caught on camera.

While some social media users had lauded the CM for swift action, others had criticised her for an “authoritarian” approach. Some users had taken to X (formerly Twitter), writing that it was “unethical behaviour” towards a respected doctor and “brazen disregard for institutional decorum”.

 “The guy needs to be fired,” the video had shown CM Maryam telling the healthcare minister while pointing at the MS.

 
“You should be thankful that I am not having you arrested,” she had told the MS, alleging that he was also unaware of the patients’ condition at the hospital.

 
The action had come after patients and their attendants had reportedly complained to the provincial chief executive about the lack of facilities at the hospital.

Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday suspended the Medical Superintendent (MS) and Principal of Jinnah Hospital following complaints from patients and their attendants about the unavailability of free medicines and essential medical tests.

A video of her surprise visit to the hospital emerged online yesterday, showing the CM inspecting the hospital’s medicine store and emergency ward, personally engaging with patients and their attendants. 
As per media reports, the chief minister examined medical prescriptions and inquired about the availability of medicines and other healthcare facilities, including medical tests. 

While further interacting with patients and their families in the emergency ward, she inquired about the availability of medicines and medical tests. Many patients expressed grievances, stating that they were forced to purchase medicines from outside despite hospital policies ensuring free medication.

Responding to complaints, Maryam Nawaz instructed hospital staff to take urgent corrective measures.

Meanwhile, after witnessing the situation firsthand, the Chief Minister acted swiftly, holding hospital authorities accountable. She assured patients that the government is committed to improving public healthcare facilities and will not tolerate any mismanagement that compromises patient welfare.

“Providing citizens with quality and timely healthcare is the government’s top priority,” she stated, warning that negligence will not be tolerated.

Maryam Nawaz’s surprise visit was not the first of its type, as earlier this month, she suspended the Mayo Hospital Lahore MS Dr Faisal Masood over complaints against the administration involving poor treatment facilities.

In a video that went viral, Maryam Nawaz, accompanied by Provincial Specialised Healthcare Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, and senior health officials, was heard inquiring about Masood’s appointment as the MS of the hospital.

“The guy needs to be fired,” she ordered while pointing her finger at him.

“You should be thankful that I am not having you arrested,” she said to the MS, adding that Masood was unaware of the patients’ conditions in the hospital.

 
According to media reports, the Chief Minister visited the emergency block, tuberculosis (TB) and chest ward, intensive care unit (ICU), cardiology, and other areas of the hospital. She also inquired about the patient’s well-being. Patients and their attendants complained about the lack of facilities in the hospital.

She said the people visiting the hospital for treatment were suffering, and their complaints were not being addressed, while the administration was ignorant of the conditions faced by the patients.

Days after a 60-page advertising supplement in newspapers highlighted Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance as the provincial chief executive, journalist Mansoor Ali Khan has held a public show at a private educational institution in Lahore, during which he asked students how they reacted to government advertisements.

As per the details, the show featured an interactive session between students, panelists, namely Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza and CM Maryam’s spokesperson Syed Kousar Kazmi, and the journalist himself.

When host Mansoor asked a student how she felt about the Punjab CM’s promotions, the student said that she chose to not watch any of those ads. Asked how she felt when ads suddenly popped up on media channels, the student replied, “We switch channels,” leaving the audience, including the PTI leader, in stitches.

While the student expressed disappointment over the provincial government’s performance and asked Kazmi to “focus less on advertisements”, the spokesperson challenged her, asking to point out a single project that had not actually been introduced.

When asked why incarcerated former premier Imran Khan was not getting any airtime, Kazmi said that they couldn’t arrange a press conference for a convict, adding that contrary to former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s stint in jail under PTI rule, jailed Khan spent hours speaking to his lawyers and journalists.

PTI’s Aliya Hamza was also questioned about Khan’s use of words like “thieves” and “dacoits” for other politicians and the fact that he himself had now been jailed for corruption in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

As Hamza attempted to evade the question, instead saying that Khan was only kept in jail so that the current rulers’ “politics won’t end”, the Mansoor chimed in, asking her whether the PTI considered property tycoon Malik Riaz a “corrupt” man.

If he committed corruption, then he is a corrupt man, she said.

“Don’t you know about it?” the host asked, to which Hamza said that the same should be proven in court.

It merits a mention the debate surrounding government ads comes days after leading newspapers published a 60-page advertising supplement showcasing Nawaz’s one-year performance as CM of Punjab.

Many social media users mocked Maryam Nawaz for focusing on her branding and questioning her marketing technique.

A 60-page advertising supplement showcasing Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance as Chief Minister of Punjab has been published with Pakistan’s leading Urdu newspapers, sparking a furious row online.

Many social media users mocked Maryam Nawaz for focusing on her branding and questioning her marketing technique.

A social media user posted a video online on Wednesday with the caption, “In today’s newspapers, you will get 60 pages at the most reasonable price, and you’ll accumulate a good amount of waste paper.” In the video, the user can be seen counting the advertisement pages featuring Nawaz’s performance in one year.

Another social media user pointed out, “It seems like the government of Punjab has published a 60-page advertisement, most of which is more focused on images of Maryam Nawaz Sharif than on actual performance reports.”

A third user joked, “These 60 pages are just an event for today; by tomorrow, they’ll be found with pakora (fritter) and samosa vendors.” 

Sharing the pictures of the front pages of multiple Urdu newspapers, another user opined, “These are today’s newspapers in Pakistan. The entire front page is covered with an advertisement from the Punjab government highlighting Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance. If marketing is necessary, it should be targeted. Such random blanket marketing won’t affect opponents but is instead alienating their own voters.”

A fifth user, while highlighting that on Tuesday, the front pages of all major Urdu newspapers in Pakistan were completely identical—the same headlines, subheadings, news, and images, published without any alterations, lamented that media houses and journalists had completely surrendered before the government.

“This might be the first time a government has published an entire supplement in newspapers regarding its performance. Such supplements are typically published by expos, embassies, and large companies,” quipped journalist Riaz Ul Haq.

Former Senator Farhatullah Babar commented that a 60-page supplement at public expense was a monstrosity. “Whosoever placed 170 pictures of CM Punjab in its first 30 pages has done a monstrous disservice to her & her government,” he opined on X.

Meanwhile, TV host and journalist Absa Komal, while sharing the pictures of newspapers on X, wrote in a caption, “These newspapers are no longer associated with journalism—should they now be considered mere publicity platforms for the Punjab government? The eagerness to flatter the government and the financial gains may eventually fade, but the lost credibility will never be restored. The owners and editors of these newspapers have brought shame to the profession of journalism.”

Earlier this week, a unique advertisement highlighting Nawaz’s one-year performance as the provincial executive remained at the center of the debate.

The advertisement appeared on the internet on Friday, showing Pakistan’s female cricket team in hot water. Just when defeat seems inevitable, the team’s all-round captain player named Maryam rescues the team while playing a winning knock.

A unique advertisement showcasing Chief Minister (CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz’s one-year performance as provincial executive has sparked debate online.

The advertisement appeared on the internet on Friday, showing Pakistan’s female cricket team in hot water. Just when defeat seems inevitable, the team’s all-round captain player named Maryam rescues the team while playing a winning knock.

“We have to win the match, send the captain to the ground; she can change the game,” the coach asks another player after Pakistan loses its fifth wicket.

The skipper, named Maryam, enters the ground with the crowd erupting in excitement, waving posters that read, “We need a century.”

On the very first ball, Maryam hits a massive six out of the stadium. A farmer who was standing beside a green tractor in his fields picks up the ball. This depicts CM Punjab’s November 2024 relaunch of the green tractor scheme for farmers after a hiatus of 12 years.

The captain hits another six, landing the ball near the mobile healthcare van, referring to Maryam Nawaz’s multiple recently launched healthcare projects, including Clinics on Wheel, Air Ambulances and Field Hospitals. 

The next six lands near a street sweeper, referring to CM Punjab’s ‘Suthra Punjab Program’ across the province, which was launched in July 2024. Captain’s match-winning six also lands out of the park with a student catching the ball while wearing a graduation gown. Multiple students were seen in the ad busy working on the CM Punjab’s laptop, referring to the Laptop Scheme for students across the province.

The ad concluded with the commentator praising Maryam’s inning, saying, “Maryam has saved the game.” 

Choosing cricket-style advertising to showcase CM Punjab’s performance in one year has started a row on the internet.

Mocking the CM’s cricket-style advertisement, prominent journalist Mansoor Ali Khan on his YouTube channel on Saturday (today) stated that Nawaz’s team did not know about media handling, viewing the jailed ex-premier Imran Khan’s achievement for Pakistan in cricket.

Internet users were also quick to react to the advertisement. One user took to X (formerly Twitter), alleging, “Maryam Nawaz’s new gift for the people of Punjab—an advertisement paid for with their own money! Why is she so eager to become the captain?”

Another user, while pointing out several flaws in the advertisement, stated that CM Punjab’s team can’t even make a proper advertisement. “Three players sitting next to each other. Where is game sense,”  asked another user.

“Wicket out hunay par empire ungli oper nahi krta, ad banany sey pehly homework tu kr lete (the umpire doesn’t raise his finger on a wicket out—at least do your homework before making an ad,” mocked another user.