M FAZAL ELAHI
\nIt was indeed a momentous occasion for the province of Punjab, when its parliament unanimously elected its 23rd chief minister on February 26, 2024 with thumping majority (220 votes). The incumbent of this prestigious and profoundly important office is none other than Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of three times former prime minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz has created history by becoming the first-ever woman chief minister of Pakistan\u2019s largest province \u2013 the province of Punjab \u2014 country\u2019s most populous and politically important region.
\nElection of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, PML-N senior vice president and chief organizer as the first woman chief executive of the province of Punjab is historic indeed. Her appointment to the highest echelon of the government of Punjab, as chief executive, is truly noteworthy but it certainly isn\u2019t something unusual. It is nothing uncommon, because there has been many such firsts in the political and judicial history of the country where women have occupied key positions in political and judicial institutions, in the past, and proved their mettle with unparalleled success.
\nBegum Ra\u2019ana Liaquat Ali Khan was the first woman governor and first woman chancellor of the University of Karachi; Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the first woman prime minister, elected in 1988, to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country -Pakistan; Dr. Fehmida Mirza was elected as the first female speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan on March 19, 2008; Syeda Tahira Safdar a Pakistani jurist, who served as the Chief Justice of Balochistan High Court, was the first female chief justice of any court in the history of Pakistan; Musarrat Hilali, was the first woman chief justice of the Peshawar High Court. She is a Pakistani judge who has become the second female judge to be elevated to the country\u2019s Supreme Court of Pakistan. These are just a few of the umpteen examples that speak volumes about women who have been in leadership positions in Pakistan. It is known to all and sundry that all of them always demonstrated unparalleled fortitude and resilience, and excelled in their respective domains.
\nTime has proven that educated Pakistani women possess all the skills and competence, like men, to play a leadership role in any field for that matter. What they just need is an opportunity. Provide them an opportunity, and they, for sure, will make a mark in their chosen career. Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the first elected female chief minister of the province of Punjab possesses all the potential to head the government in Punjab, and manage its affairs judiciously and skillfully. Her consummate management of the party (PML-N) affairs, at most difficult times, when her illustrious father former prime minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhamad Nawaz Sharif was in self-exile abroad speaks volumes about her political skills and acumen. She not only successfully held the party together but also deftly managed the party affairs in her father\u2019s absence. Her capabilities and her mature understanding of intricate social and political issues confronting the country cannot be overemphasized.
\nThe detractors of Maryam Nawaz Sharif should now accept the fact that she has become the chief minister of Pakistan\u2019s political hub \u2013 Punjab. Disparaging her just for the sake of political point-scoring should, therefore, cease. She is all set to govern the largest province of the country with a huge socio-economically disadvantaged populace. The tasks before her are gargantuan and profoundly onerous. Dealing with the burgeoning economic crisis would particularly be an uphill task for her. Paucity of resources may hinder her efforts to bring progress to the province and prosperity to its poverty-stricken people at the pace at which she perhaps would like to. Despite all these obstacles, since she has the will she would certainly have the way to effectively address these issues through planned and judicious use of the available resources.
\nGovernance of the country\u2019s largest province\u2013Punjab by Ms. Maryam Nawaz may perhaps be cumbersome but certainly not impossible. Because, throughout her challenging journey towards good governance and her endeavors to live up to the ever-burgeoning expectations of the people, she, for sure, would be enjoying continued blessings and mentoring of her illustrious father Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, who has had unparalleled experience of managing the affairs of this country thrice as its prime minister. And, of course, her uncle Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan\u2019s prime minister-in-waiting, and four times chief minister of Punjab, would also be there to mentor her, if required. One doesn\u2019t see any reason why chief minister Maryam Nawaz shouldn\u2019t benefit from her father\u2019s and her uncle\u2019s unparalleled experience in the realm of political and administrative governance? .
\nIn conclusion, one expects particularly from the women of Pakistan to rise above all prejudices and political affiliations and take pride in the fact that it is for the first time in the political history of Punjab that a woman has risen to the helm of governance, and she is all set to govern the largest province of the country as its first woman chief minister. One expects from every segment of the Pakistani society, including the Pakistan media \u2013 the fourth pillar of the State, to act rationally and responsibly. Give the incumbent chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz some breathing space. She has just taken the reigns of the province in her hands. Let her settle down and take stock of things. Once she starts implementing the commitments she had made to the people of Punjab in her manifesto, one could take stock of her performance \u2013 criticize her wherever she fails \u2013 and praise her wherever she performs outstandingly. Until then, one should hold one\u2019s horses and wish her god speed and success in all her endeavors directed towards tackling the appalling economic predicaments of the province of Punjab, and bringing prosperity particularly to its impecunious people.<\/p>\n
The writer is a columnist and analyst based in Islamabad-Pakistan. Email: geniousfazal@hotmail.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
M FAZAL ELAHI It was indeed a momentous occasion for the province of Punjab, when its parliament unanimously elected its 23rd chief minister on February 26, 2024 with thumping majority (220 votes). The incumbent of this prestigious and profoundly important office is none other than Maryam Nawaz Sharif, daughter of three times former prime minister […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[12611],"class_list":{"0":"post-389811","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-article","7":"tag-m-fazal-elahi"},"yoast_head":"\n