There was a time when people in Pakistan cited examples from the United States and Europe, particularly regarding traffic laws and the basic civic facilities available to citizens. Today, all of this appears to be becoming a reality in Punjab. Over the past two years, innovation has been introduced across multiple sectors. Punjab stands as the only province that has rapidly met international standards, which is why even overseas communities now speak about the facilities being provided to its people.
Traffic congestion remains a major issue in three to four large cities of Punjab. To address this, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has already approved a comprehensive roadmap. In its first phase, a modern traffic management system is being introduced in Lahore. If we can follow traffic rules in developed countries, there is no reason why we cannot implement and adhere to them in our own country. Wearing seat belts and helmets is not for the benefit of the government, but for the safety of drivers and motorcyclists themselves. A recent report highlighted a significant reduction in head injuries among motorcyclists over the past year. The primary reason is increased helmet usage; even in the event of an accident, it is less likely to prove fatal.
Modern traffic systems are being adopted worldwide, and Punjab takes credit for introducing such initiatives early on. It was Shahbaz Sharif who first introduced a modern public transport system in the province, launching metro bus services in Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. In Lahore, air-conditioned buses were introduced on 19 routes, with Speedo and Pink Bus services being particularly notable. Subsequently, Shahbaz Sharif initiated the Orange Line Train project, a landmark development. However, it remained stalled for 11 months under then Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, reportedly due to concerns that its completion before elections would politically benefit the Pakistan Muslim League (N). In reality, this delay led to a significant increase in project costs amounting to billions of rupees.
During the four years of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in Punjab, not a single new bus was procured. Following the formation of Maryam Nawaz’s government, a network of electric buses has been rolled out across the province. Notably, the initiative began from Mianwali-a constituency long represented by the PTI founder-yet, according to critics, it had not seen substantial development during that period. Today, electric buses are visible across Punjab, offering a highly affordable and comfortable travel option at a fare of just 20 rupees-arguably one of the most economical and modern transport services available to the public.
Recently, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, in collaboration with Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, signed an agreement to launch Pakistan’s first fast train in Punjab. Covering 1,415 kilometers, the project will include 20 regions and 8 local routes, introducing a state-of-the-art fast train system. This initiative is expected to cover more than half of Punjab and benefit approximately 90 million people. While the project is large-scale and costly, Maryam Nawaz is known for successfully delivering complex and ambitious initiatives.
Within just two years, Maryam Nawaz has undertaken projects unprecedented in the history of provincial governments in Pakistan. For the fast train project, a special committee has been constituted under the leadership of Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb. After a year of continuous work, a formal agreement was reached between Pakistan Railways and the Punjab government. Maryam Aurangzeb has proven herself to be a diligent and responsible minister, validating Nawaz Sharif’s decision to retain her in Punjab and reflecting his confidence in her abilities.
Following the Orange Line Train, the fast train project is expected to bring about a major transformation in the transport sector. Such train systems are commonly seen in developed countries, and now Punjab is moving towards introducing similar infrastructure. Meanwhile, work on the Gujranwala Metro Bus project is progressing rapidly, with strict deadlines set for its completion.
One of Maryam Nawaz’s distinguishing qualities is her commitment to completing projects within stipulated timelines. She often remarks in her speeches that Punjab had the same resources in the past as it does today, raising the question of why those resources were not previously utilized for public welfare. Another aspect of her leadership that resonates strongly with the public is her statement that these projects are not acts of favor but the rightful entitlement of the people, albeit delivered late. This sentiment has been widely appreciated.
According to a recent survey by IPOR, the rising popularity of Maryam Nawaz and the fact that 69 percent of Punjab’s population has expressed satisfaction with her two-year performance serve as strong indicators of public approval.