Lahore: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has instructed the relevant authorities to initiate the construction of a girls’ hostel at the University of Sahiwal and to restore scholarships for nurses. According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the chief minister made these announcements during a ceremony for distributing laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques at the university. She extended congratulations to the students and their families and acknowledged the efforts of the teachers.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized the importance of recognizing the sacrifices made by parents in supporting their children’s education. She highlighted the inclusion of nurses and students from religious seminaries in government schemes for the first time. The Work for Punjab program was also mentioned, which offers internships to university graduates with monthly stipends. Additional facilities are being developed in educational institutions across Punjab.
The chief minister noted that the government is focusing on empowering children through artificial intelligence tools and has trained 500,000 young individuals under a skills development program. Support is also being provided to skilled workers traveling abroad through the Parwaaz Card. Education Minister Rana Sikandar was commended for his work on developing a new syllabus, and vice-chancellors have been appointed on merit across universities in Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif advocated for urban beautification beyond Lahore, mentioning Sahiwal, Okara, and Pakpattan. She noted Punjab’s recognition with the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour Award for its low-cost housing initiative. Landless people are being given land for cultivation, and healthcare services are being delivered to patients’ doorsteps to avoid loss of daily wages.
The Maryam Ki Dastak program provides services such as birth certificates at home, and the Clinic on Wheels initiative has reached millions. Water and sanitation agencies and parks and horticulture authorities have been established in each district. The government has issued Kisan Cards and distributed tractors to support farmers, along with new Livestock Cards. Students from other provinces have a designated quota under the laptop scheme.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif reiterated the government’s commitment to providing quality education through the Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence initiative. She expressed sorrow over a recent tragedy involving the collapse of a school roof in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which resulted in the loss of young lives.