LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that a terrorist remains a terrorist regardless of where he comes from, stressing that there is no classification of terrorism.
Addressing participants of a leadership course, Maryam Nawaz said government officials must perform their duties with honesty and dedication and improve their services for Pakistan’s development and the welfare of the people.
She said Pakistan had given a strong response to India in the war, while the armed forces were also fighting terrorism with full force. She added that a new image of Pakistan was emerging in the world.
Terrorist Is a Terrorist, Regardless of Where He Comes From: Maryam Nawaz
The Punjab chief minister said internal security would remain at risk until the country’s internal systems were improved. “First and foremost, we are all Pakistanis,” she said, stressing the importance of focusing on key national issues.
Maryam Nawaz said Pakistan’s decline began when continuity was disrupted, adding that a country could not progress without continuity in policies.
She said the writ of the state had been restored in the riverine areas of Punjab, while terrorism had damaged the beauty of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She stressed that improvements in governance, performance and institutions were essential for development.
Referring to Afghanistan, the chief minister said it was a neighbouring country of Pakistan, but its use of its own territory or another country’s territory against Pakistan could not be ignored.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had strengthened its security institutions and was monitoring their performance. She said the province had taken measures against the “dacoit culture” and claimed that the crime rate in Punjab had declined by up to 70 percent.
She said she regularly held meetings with inspector generals and was involved in top-level decision-making. “There is no no-go area for me,” she said.
The chief minister said leaders should not be afraid of making decisions, as countries could not move forward if their leadership hesitated to take decisions.
Talking about social welfare initiatives, Maryam Nawaz said that after taking oath as chief minister, she decided to introduce a Ramadan package for deserving families. However, she said the existing data was inadequate and included the names of affluent people.
She said she subsequently ordered the preparation of new data and research, leading to the establishment of the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry to identify deserving people and assess their needs.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab had now become accessible through a “click of a button” and that more than 100 projects had been launched. She added that around 130,000 houses had been completed in the province, while another 100,000 were under construction.