Why Punjab progresses while KP struggles?’ Maryam asks

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has blamed what she described as 13 years of incompetence and misgovernance for the current situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), as debate continues over the possible imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in the province.

In a statement posted on X, Maryam said the people of KP had spent the past 13 years dealing with protests, political unrest, abusive language and social media trends instead of receiving effective governance and development. She argued that discussions about governor’s rule and an emergency were the result of years of administrative failure rather than the fault of the public.

“ Khyber Pakhtunkhwa needs service, not chaos,” she said, stressing that the province required a shift towards public welfare, development and better administration.

Maryam questioned why Punjab and KP, despite being part of the same country and sharing the same Constitution and national resources, were experiencing different levels of development and security. She argued that the difference was not a lack of resources but a matter of political will, intentions and administrative capability.

Comparing the two provinces, the Punjab chief minister highlighted what she described as improvements in cleanliness, education, transport, healthcare and infrastructure under her government. She questioned why similar initiatives had not been implemented effectively in KP.

Referring to education, Maryam said Punjab’s talented students were receiving scholarships, while children in KP were not benefiting from comparable priorities. She alleged that political protests and sit-ins had taken precedence over educational opportunities in the province.

She also raised concerns about public safety, asking why mothers in Punjab could feel more secure while families in KP continued to face fear and uncertainty. According to her, the provincial leadership had focused more on political confrontations and attempts to march towards Islamabad than on protecting citizens.

The Punjab chief minister also pointed to the introduction of green electric buses in Punjab, questioning why similar transport projects had not been delivered in KP. She claimed that development initiatives in the province had largely remained confined to social media rather than translating into practical projects on the ground.

On infrastructure, Maryam contrasted the construction of paved roads in Punjab’s rural areas with what she described as incomplete road projects in KP. She accused the provincial leadership of making promises without delivering the required work.

Healthcare was another major focus of her criticism. Maryam cited free medicines, field hospitals and mobile healthcare services, including clinics on wheels, as examples of initiatives in Punjab. She questioned why patients in KP continued to face difficulties accessing healthcare, alleging that political power had been given greater importance than public health.

Maryam maintained that the contrasting situations in the two provinces reflected what she described as 13 years of political instability and administrative incompetence in KP. She said the experience of Punjab demonstrated that governments should be judged by their performance rather than political rhetoric.

Concluding her remarks, the Punjab chief minister reiterated that KP needed practical solutions, improved public services and development rather than continued political confrontation.

Her statement comes amid an intensifying political debate over the provincial government’s handling of security and governance challenges and discussions about possible constitutional measures in KP.