Maryam Nawaz hails Lahoris for rejecting violence, reviving culture

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday stated that there was no strike anywhere in Punjab and that the public had completely rejected negative

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday stated that there was no strike anywhere in Punjab and that the public had completely rejected negative behavior and abusive rhetoric.

Speaking at a Basant festival event in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz said that although a strike had been called the previous day, Sunday is traditionally a day when shops remain closed. She said the public defeated the disruptive call by miscreants, resulting in zero strikes, zero shutter-downs, and no disruption of traffic. She added that the culture of unrest and chaos propagated by PTI did not succeed. According to her, the strike call was aimed at harming the poor while benefiting the wealthy, and it was encouraging to see people reject such misbehavior.

Maryam Nawaz also praised the public for strictly following Basant SOPs. She said she was pleased to see Lahoris enjoying the festival responsibly, noting that rooftops were full of people celebrating—a sight not seen for 25 years. She emphasized that Basant holds a central place in Punjab’s cultural heritage.

The Chief Minister expressed solidarity with the victims of the Tarlai blast and said that, in its aftermath, official Basant celebrations had been canceled.

Maryam Nawaz further said that seeing the joy on the faces of Lahoris was heartening. She stated that the revival of Basant in Lahore had restored cultural vibrancy, and that the youth had celebrated the festival in a safe and responsible manner for the first time.