No student to be deprived of education due to financial constraints: CM Maryam

LAHORE, Nov 03 (APP): Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced the provision of transport facilities for the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Taxila, and said no talented student would be deprived of education due to financial constraints.
Addressing a laptop and Honhaar Scholarship distribution ceremony at COMSATS University, Attock, the chief minister congratulated the recipients and described them as the cream of Punjab. She said she had personally travelled to Attock as a mother to celebrate their achievements, said a handout issued here.
She said the students were receiving the reward of their hard work and deserved it as their right, adding that they should accept these facilities with dignity rather than feel obliged to express gratitude.
CM Maryam Nawaz said every scholarship recipient had a story of struggle and determination. Recalling the case of a girl who faced financial difficulties after the death of her mother, she said the Honhaar Scholarship had helped resolve her financial problems. She also met a student whose father was a labourer and who was delighted to receive the scholarship. She said many talented students in the past had been unable to continue their education due to financial constraints, but her government would ensure that no student was deprived of education for lack of funds.
The CM announced that an electric bike scheme for students would also be launched soon, under which pink bikes would be provided to girls and black bikes to boys to facilitate their daily commute. She said improvements in law and order had ensured a safe environment for girls travelling independently on motorcycles.
“Every son and daughter in Punjab feels secure. Punjab is the only province providing laptops, scholarships and electric bikes to students,” she said, adding that students were also being honoured with a Guard of Honour.
Maryam Nawaz said she had come to present her government’s performance report rather than highlight the shortcomings of others. She maintained that development activities slowed down as soon as one crossed Punjab’s borders, where educational institutions, roads and public transport facilities remained inadequate. “I am not a mother who merely points out problems, I work day and night to resolve them,” she remarked.
Expressing satisfaction over educational initiatives in Attock, she said she was pleased to see a Grammar School and a Nawaz Sharif School of Eminence upon entering the district. She said 300 Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence were being established across Punjab, featuring air-conditioned classrooms, artificial intelligence (AI) labs and science laboratories.
Describing the initiative as an educational revolution, she said the standard of these schools was even better than that of grammar schools.
The CM said she loved every child of Punjab as much as her own children and shared a special bond of affection with them. Recalling her interactions with students, she said their love and emotional attachment were her greatest assets. She urged students not to lose heart in the face of criticism and continue pursuing their dreams with hard work, determination and perseverance.
Highlighting development projects in Attock, Maryam Nawaz said 850 kilometres of roads had been constructed in the district. She also referred to the introduction of Green Buses, establishment of bus terminals, improvement of educational facilities and provision of free medicines and treatment in hospitals. She said loans had been disbursed for the construction of 250,000 houses across Punjab. Referring to a retired subedar, she said he had been able to build his house after receiving a loan of Rs1.5 million despite having limited financial resources.
The CM said Attock had received little attention in the past and had resembled a village more than a developed city. However, a modern market had now been established there. She added that billions of rupees had been spent on sewerage and drainage projects to address the city’s longstanding problem of urban flooding during heavy rains.
Responding to allegations of corruption levelled by a federal minister from Gujrat, CM Maryam Nawaz announced that a defamation notice was being sent to him over what she termed baseless allegations.
“Trillions of rupees are being invested in development projects in Punjab, with individual projects worth Rs300 billion. I can take an oath before these children that I have not committed corruption of even a single rupee,” she said.
She challenged those making allegations to present evidence instead of spreading accusations, adding that she was answerable to the people and Allah Almighty for her actions.
Referring to the previous government’s performance in Gujrat, she said the city had faced severe urban flooding during heavy rains, forcing people to use trolleys to reach their homes as roads became impassable for motorcycles and cars. She said the situation had improved considerably over the past one-and-a-half to two years, adding that the provincial government was now working strictly on merit.
CM Maryam Nawaz said she did not appoint deputy commissioners on recommendations, as public appointments should be based on merit rather than personal preferences. She added millions of laptops and scholarships had been distributed transparently and without discrimination, adding that political affiliation, personal recommendations or money had played no role in the selection of deserving students.