Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari has said that public welfare remains at the heart of the provincial government’s initiatives under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The 37th meeting of the Punjab Cabinet reviewed public issues, development projects and measures aimed at improving the provincial economy. She said the cabinet paid tribute to the soldiers who embraced martyrdom in the fight against terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing them as national heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the country’s defence and peace.
Azma Bokhari expressed concern that some political leaders continued to refrain from explicitly declaring the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan a terrorist organisation. Criticising Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s stance, she said political parties that had themselves suffered from terrorism should adopt a clear and unequivocal position against it. National interest and love for the country, she added, must take precedence over political affiliations. Raising questions about the issuance of mineral licences in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the information minister said 422 mineral licences had been issued in the province up to 2010, while reports suggested that more than 4,200 licences were issued between 2013 and 2024.