DERA GHAZI KHAN:
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif unveiled a series of significant development and education initiatives during a ceremony in Layyah on Thursday, where she distributed laptops and Honhar scholarship cheques.
In her address, the CM announced the establishment of a medical college in Layyah and allocated Rs3 billion for the development of universities in Dera Ghazi Khan and Layyah.
She also declared the creation of the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence for Early Childhood Education in both cities.
Highlighting her commitment to educational reform, the CM announced a massive Rs110 billion plan to provide basic facilitiesclassrooms, toilets, and clean waterto all schools in Punjab within a year. “No school in Punjab will be deprived of essential facilities,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz also lauded the Pakistan Army’s success in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, extending congratulations to Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Air Chief Babar Zaheer Sindhu. She paid tribute to the sacrifices of military personnel, emphasising national unity and youth empowerment.
“The youth must become a fortress for Pakistan. If they stand strong, no force can defeat us,” she stated. “I want every hardworking student to feel supported. If parents lack resources, the state must act like a mother.”
The Honhar scholarship amount was raised from Rs30, to Rs50,000, and the number of distributed laptops increased to 100,000. “These are your rights, not favours,” she told the students.
Concluding her address, she urged youth to reject sedition and uphold national values. “Those who lead youth astray have abandoned them. Let us stand with development, unity, and the dignity of our institutions.”
Earlier, the CM met with the outgoing Country Director of the World Bank, Najy Benhassine, reaffirming the province’s long-standing partnership with the international financial institution and paying tribute to his contributions since assuming the role in 2020.
During the meeting held in Lahore, the Chief Minister warmly welcomed Benhassine and praised his efforts in strengthening development cooperation between the World Bank and Pakistan, particularly Punjab.
