Speaking at a scholarship program in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her government’s dedication to empowering youth through education.

The CM announced the successful completion of the current phase of scholarship distribution and unveiled plans for future initiatives, including free laptops and e-bikes to support students. She emphasized that the scholarships were awarded strictly on merit, with no external influence, and pledged to resign if any irregularities were proven.

Maryam Nawaz praised the youth as Pakistan’s greatest asset, highlighting that 65% of the population is under 30. She promised to expand the scholarship program from 30,000 to 50,000 recipients next year and to include second and third-year students. Additionally, she expressed her intention to extend these programs to students in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Taking aim at her political opponents, Maryam accused them of spreading false propaganda on social media and neglecting youth welfare during their time in power. She contrasted her government’s efforts to uplift the youth with what she described as the opposition’s tactics of violence and misinformation.

The CM reiterated her commitment to serving Pakistan, commending the sacrifices made by law enforcement to ensure the nation’s security and condemning attacks on state institutions.

Concluding her address, Maryam urged young people to prioritize education and reject misleading narratives. She emphasized the importance of national unity, declaring, “We are the custodians of Pakistan’s honour, not those associated with May 9 incidents, but those who acted with pride on May 28.”