It is our failure if people lose trust in state and system: Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE — Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, warned that a loss of confidence in the state or its institutions would signal a collective failure on the part of the government and society. Speaking to a gathering of Sindh’s administrative service officers, she said the government must reach out to citizens, meet their needs and reinforce their bond with the state.

Maryam emphasized that her top priority remains good governance and effective service delivery. “The chief minister’s chair is not a bed of roses,” she noted, adding that many people assume running a government is simple, while the role actually presents numerous challenges. She explained that if a day passes without any improvement in governance, she feels the day has been wasted.

The chief minister pointed out that even members of her own cabinet sometimes keep people waiting for hours, underscoring the need for punctuality and efficiency in public administration. She recalled that meetings once scheduled for 10 a.m. often did not begin until 12:30 p.m. By contrast, she insists none of her meetings are delayed; she arrives early, saying, “If I have to reach somewhere at 10 a.m., I am there at 9:55 a.m.”

Managing party affairs, she said, is more demanding than running the provincial government. Although she receives more criticism than praise, she does not allow it to affect her work. Maryam stressed that all public appointments should be based on merit, rejecting any reliance on personal recommendations. She criticized the practice of using connections to secure jobs, asking, “If someone gets appointed through a recommendation, how unfair is that to those who deserve the position on merit?”

She added that whenever a candidate is suggested to her for an interview, she immediately removes that name from consideration. “First of all, I cross out the name of the person who comes with a recommendation,” she affirmed, reiterating her commitment to merit‑based appointments and better governance.

Mohsin Naqvi, commenting on broader reforms, said a systemic reset will bring improvement to the country’s affairs.