"Keep your advice to yourself."
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has accused the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership of politicising Punjab’s devastating floods.
Speaking during the inauguration of the province’s first electric bus service in Dera Ghazi Khan, Maryam rejected the idea of seeking international aid for relief efforts.
She insisted that Punjab would rely on its own resources to confront the calamity.
Maryam dismissed unsolicited advice from PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, stating Punjab could manage its crisis independently without outside commentary.
Calling Bilawal a younger brother, she nonetheless urged PPP spokespersons to refrain from using the floods as a political talking point.
She said: “Keep your advice to yourself. We will manage Punjab ourselves.”
Maryam doubled down on her position by declaring that her government would never “beg” for money from abroad or the centre.
She stressed she had not taken, nor even requested, a single rupee from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s federal government for the floods.
The chief minister also criticised the Benazir Income Support Programme.
Maryam questioned: “What can someone do with Rs. 10,000 if they’ve suffered a loss worth millions?”
To bridge that gap, she pledged compensation of up to Rs. 1 million for the worst-affected families, calling it a fairer approach.
She insisted her loyalty was to all of Punjab equally, brushing aside efforts to divide the province along regional lines.
Maryam said:
“South Punjab is as dear to me as my own son.”
She explained that ration cards introduced by her government were designed for hardworking families struggling to make ends meet, not for freeloaders.
The chief minister added that the distribution of milk for the children had already begun.
In her remarks, she linked these welfare measures with broader reforms, promising more initiatives to strengthen livelihoods across the province.
The launch of the electric bus service was hailed as a historic step for South Punjab, with 101 buses planned for deployment.
In its first phase, 24 buses will run in Dera Ghazi Khan, offering Wi-Fi, CCTV, charging ports, air-conditioning, and separate women’s compartments.
Women, students, and senior citizens will travel free, while full accessibility will ensure inclusivity for people with disabilities.
Maryam Nawaz urged people to safeguard the new buses, reminding them that public property belongs to the people themselves.
Yet, her remarks about PPP politicising floods sparked backlash online, with netizens mocking her for stamping her face on aid bags.
Critics even noted some food packs contained nothing more than chips and juice, with packaging allegedly costing more than the contents.
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