LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday announced laptops for position-holding students and five buses for Kinnaird College for Women, reaffirming her government’s commitment to expanding educational and employment opportunities for women.
Addressing the 89th convocation of Kinnaird College, the Chief Minister congratulated the graduating students, their parents and faculty members, describing every girl present at the ceremony as “a complete story of success”.
She said the provincial government was determined to reach every household and ensure that every child had the opportunity to receive an education, regardless of financial circumstances.
The CM Punjab acknowledged the additional challenges women face in pursuing their ambitions, observing that society often views men’s professional aspirations differently from those of women. “When a boy works hard, people say he wants to get ahead. When a girl works hard, they say she is only concerned about herself,” she said, urging women to become empowered, remain determined and prove their capabilities through hard work.
The Chief Minister said she balanced official responsibilities with domestic duties, adding that women should not be discouraged from pursuing professional careers by the expectation that they might neglect their homes.
She said providing a conducive and safe environment for women was the government’s responsibility, adding that she had worked over the past three years to make Punjab a more women-friendly province.
She further expressed her pleasure and said she was elated to see young women riding scooters and rickshaws and participating in the workforce. Recalling a video of a student who attended university in the morning and worked as an Uber driver in the evening, she said women were no less capable than men.
She stressed that harassment and violence against women would not be tolerated in Punjab. The government was working to ensure safer public spaces and improve employment opportunities for women, she said.
Referring to security arrangements on public transport, the Chief Minister said CCTV cameras and panic buttons had been installed on electric buses to facilitate prompt action against harassment. She urged female students to report such incidents and asked parents to listen to their daughters’ complaints rather than discourage them from speaking out.
She said the government had moved towards providing equal opportunities in its schemes, contrasting the previous allocation of 70 percent of opportunities to boys and 30 percent to girls with the current policy of equal access.
The Chief Minister also highlighted educational initiatives, including the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, laptop distribution and Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence, saying the government was committed to helping students who could not continue their education because of financial constraints.
She said that when she assumed office, 22 universities did not have vice chancellors, but appointments had since been made on merit. She personally conducted interviews to ensure that appointments were not influenced by recommendations, adding that unsuitable appointments could damage educational institutions.
The Chief Minister urged students not to consider themselves inferior to others and encouraged them to use education to improve their prospects. She said challenges were an inevitable part of life and should be faced with courage and perseverance.
Referring to her own experience, she said she had been told that governing Punjab would be difficult because of the province’s size and the challenges of managing the police and bureaucracy. However, she said hard work could enable women to rise to positions such as Chief Minister, minister, commissioner and deputy commissioner.
She also praised Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb for her efforts to address smog, saying the government had taken steps to provide children with a healthier environment.
The Chief Minister said the provincial government would continue providing resources to help students become financially independent. She also highlighted plans to facilitate women’s access to electric bikes through easy instalments.
Concluding her address, the CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz expressed pride in the achievements of Punjab’s daughters and called on parents to encourage their children to pursue their ambitions without fear. She also led the students in applauding their parents for supporting them through their educational journeys.
Earlier, Chairman of the Board of Governors Bishop Alexander John Malik formally opened the ceremony in accordance with tradition.
In his address, Bishop Alexander John Malik termed Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif a role model for women and appreciated her initiatives, particularly those aimed at empowering women and supporting female students. Principal Kinnaird College Iram Anjum welcomed the Chief Minister.
The CM awarded gold medals and degrees to position-holding BS and MPhil students. She also presented awards to faculty members in recognition of their outstanding teaching and research services. The heads of academic departments formally confirmed the degrees awarded to students.
The ceremony witnessed a heart warming moment when the Chief Minister showed affection to a special student who received a gold medal, prompting a resounding round of applause from the audience. She also congratulated the parents of the medal-winning students on their daughters’ achievements.
Kinnaird College students presented a special song, “Pak Watan Teri Dharti Maa Jaisi”, during the convocation.
Among the recipients of special medals, Shamail from Media Studies received the Mangat Rai Medal, Taiba Akhtar from Chemistry the Mir Phelps Medal, Sheeza Ali the Rukhsana Deward Medal in Fine Arts, and Hafza Rehman from Physics the Boswell Medal.
Fatima Ejaz from Psychology received the Asma Jamil Medal, Manahil Azhar from Media Studies the Laila Najmuddin Medal, Khadija Asim from Sports the Outstanding Medal, Ayesha Khan from Law the Asma Jahangir Medal, and Aina Rehman from Education the First Position Medal.
The Chief Minister also awarded gold medals to Fiza Nawaz in Social Sciences, Rabia Sajid in Environmental Science, Manahil Abdullah in Food Science, and Maheen Gul.
Among MPhil graduates, Farheen Nasir received the medal in Life Sciences, Malaika Tariq in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, Maryam Tariq in Arts, and Iqra Wardah Yasin in Social Sciences.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026