Maryam Nawaz on Friday announced Punjab government’s plan to modernize agriculture, bring reforms in the education system and health sector in the province. Addressing the Punjab Assembly, she listed 100 day performance of her government and promised sweeping changes in various sectors for uplift of the people of the province. “It is impossible for me to summarize what we have done in 100 days in one budget speech,” the Punjab chief minister added. She announced funding solar systems for agriculture tube-wells, tractors and farm equipment for the economic well being of farmers. The government would pay 70 percent price of a tractor, while farmer has to pay the remaining 30 percent, she added. Maryam outlined her preferences to reform education sector stating provision of milk to the primary school students. The project would cost Rs27 billion, she continued.

She announced relaunch of the laptop scheme which was started by Shehbaz Sharif for the outstanding students, and added that every year 300,000 students would be given IT training. US technology company Google would provide training to 300,000 children. The Punjab government also laid emphasis on skill development in schools, she maintained. The opposition members raised slogans when she started her speech but she addressed the speaker and asked him to pay no heed to them. Highlighting budget 2024-25, Maryam said it was the first tax-free Punjab budget. About the health sector, she said hospitals in the Punjab would be upgraded. The chief minister of Punjab announced restart of delivery of free medicine to patients in hospitals which was suspended by the previous regime. Free drugs would be given to patients suffering from cancer, hepatitis and other diseases, she added Maryam said for the first time in history, the Punjab government would launch Himmat Card, under which wheelchairs would be given to the disabled people.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan