Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif made a series of significant announcements during her address at the Suthra Punjab ceremony in Lahore on Tuesday, recognizing the vital role of sanitation workers across the province.
Maryam Nawaz unveiled a new ration card initiative for 150,000 Suthra Punjab workers, acknowledging their efforts in maintaining cleanliness across Punjab. “Today, I am proud to wear the uniform of the Suthra Punjab team,” she said. “If I, as Chief Minister, can wear a commando’s uniform, I can certainly wear the uniform of those who keep Punjab shining.”
The Chief Minister hailed sanitation workers as the “true heroes of Punjab”, expressing her gratitude for their dedication in keeping cities, towns, and villages clean. “From narrow alleys to busy streets, the Suthra Punjab team has worked tirelessly, and I salute their service,” she added.
Highlighting their courage during recent floods, she praised Rescue 1122, the police, civil defense, commissioners, deputy commissioners, and cabinet members, noting that Suthra Punjab workers even formed “human chains” to hold back floodwaters.
Maryam Nawaz also commended Local Government Minister Zeeshan Rafique and the Secretary of Local Government for their performance, describing the 150,000-member Suthra Punjab force as the largest sanitation team in the world.
Taking aim at previous administrations, she remarked, “When Shahbaz Sharif’s government ended, the sanitation system collapsed. During the era of ‘Gogi and Pinky,’ garbage piled up across Punjab. Within months, we restored cleanliness and efficiency.”
Recalling past challenges, she said, “Previously, animal waste from Eid-ul-Azha would remain on streets for weeks. Now, it’s cleared within hours — a testament to our improved system.”
The Chief Minister revealed that every district in Punjab now has dedicated sanitation machinery, with 35,000 units of equipment and thousands of containers available province-wide. She promised that a modern Suthra Punjab system would be fully operational across all districts within a year.
She also noted a positive shift in public perception, saying, “People no longer refer to them as ‘garbage collectors’ — they now call them ‘cleanliness workers’ with respect.”
Broadening her remarks, Maryam Nawaz reaffirmed her commitment to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and public welfare, announcing scholarships and laptops for deserving students to ensure that “no student’s education is disrupted due to financial hardship.”
She further stated that Punjab’s crime rate has dropped to record lows, emphasizing, “Those who harass women are now arrested within 24 hours.”
Addressing critics, she remarked, “Just as we clean our streets, I’m also cleaning the minds of those consumed by envy over Punjab’s progress.”
She added that former CM Shahbaz Sharif now commends her performance — a testament to the success of her administration.
Concluding her speech, Maryam Nawaz said, “Punjab is witnessing a revolution of cleanliness and development. I wish to see Sindh, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa equally clean and thriving. If roads are broken or essentials are costly, citizens should hold their governments accountable.”
“Cleanliness, education, jobs, and progress are the people’s rights — and I am determined to deliver them,” she affirmed.
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