Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a wide range of welfare and development initiatives for AJK, promising that several successful public welfare programs currently operating in Punjab will also be introduced in the region if the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) forms the next government.
Speaking at an election rally in Muzaffarabad, Maryam Nawaz said residents of AJK would benefit from the Punjab government’s electric bike scheme and interest-free loan program, aimed at supporting students, young professionals, and low-income families.
She also pledged to launch the Himmat Card program in AJK, providing financial assistance and support to persons with disabilities, similar to the initiative already available in Punjab.
For the education sector, Maryam Nawaz announced 2,000 scholarships and the distribution of 5,000 laptops to students across AJK, saying the measures would help improve educational opportunities and encourage digital learning among young people.
To strengthen healthcare services, she promised to provide 15 Clinic on Wheels units across AJK, ensuring that people living in remote and underserved areas receive better access to medical care. She added that improving healthcare facilities would remain a priority under a future PML-N government.
Addressing employment concerns, the Punjab chief minister said her party would introduce new opportunities for the youth of AJK, focusing on economic development and job creation.
Maryam Nawaz also highlighted Punjab’s ongoing healthcare projects, including the construction of the 1,000-bed Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore. She noted that patients from AJK would also be able to benefit from the advanced medical facilities once the hospital becomes operational.
Additionally, she said she would request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to expand the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing scheme to AJK, allowing deserving families in the region to benefit from affordable housing initiatives.
The announcements form part of PML-N’s broader development agenda for AJK, with a focus on education, healthcare, employment, housing, and youth empowerment.
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