After U.S. Congress, Forbes Also Applauds Maryam Nawaz’s “Suthra Punjab Programme”: Azma Bokhari

By Farzana Chaudhry – Lahore, Pakistan

LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s “Suthra Punjab Programme” is gaining significant global recognition. After acknowledgement from the U.S. Congress, international magazine Forbes has also praised the Punjab Government’s flagship cleanliness and governance initiative.

Azma Bokhari stated that Maryam Nawaz is “cleaning the entire Punjab as if it were her own home,” adding that Forbes has highlighted how longstanding sanitation problems—persisting for more than 75 years—have been resolved within a matter of months.

The Minister noted that the programme has effectively eliminated the gap between urban and rural sanitation standards. “Previously, modern cleanliness services were restricted to affluent urban centres. Today, the same level of service is being provided in villages across the province,” she said.

She further shared that Forbes has commended Maryam Nawaz’s environment-friendly policies, the use of modern technology, and her governance model. The magazine has particularly praised Punjab’s digital governance framework for helping curb corruption and improving administrative transparency.

According to Bokhari, prioritising local industry under the Suthra Punjab Programme has created 140,000 new jobs. She added that Forbes has acknowledged that governments worldwide are now looking to study and replicate Punjab’s model of public service delivery.

“Maryam Nawaz is serving the people of Punjab with sincerity and dedication,” Bokhari said. “This is why her work is being appreciated not only across Pakistan but also on the international stage.”