Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced laptops for position-holding students and five buses for Kinnaird College for Women, pledging further support for women’s education, mobility and career opportunities across the province.
She made the announcements while addressing the 89th convocation of Kinnaird College for Women, where she congratulated graduating students and praised their academic achievements.
Describing every girl at the ceremony as “a complete story of success”, the chief minister said her government was committed to ensuring that financial difficulties did not prevent children from receiving an education.
She also urged women to pursue their ambitions with confidence, acknowledging the social pressures they often face when seeking educational and professional success.
Maryam Nawaz Urges Women to Challenge Social Barriers
Addressing the graduates, Maryam Nawaz highlighted the different expectations society places on men and 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.
The chief minister encouraged women to remain determined and demonstrate their abilities through hard work and achievement.
She reiterated that harassment and violence against women would not be tolerated in Punjab. She also pointed to safety measures introduced on electric buses, including CCTV cameras and panic buttons, designed to help passengers report harassment and enable a prompt response.
Her remarks placed women’s safety alongside education and access to employment as areas requiring continued government attention.
Scholarships and Laptops to Support Students
Maryam Nawaz highlighted several provincial education initiatives, including the Honhaar Scholarship Programme, laptop distribution schemes and Nawaz Sharif Schools of Eminence.
She said the government wanted to help students who risked discontinuing their education because of financial difficulties.
The announcement of laptops for position-holding students adds to the support highlighted at the convocation. However, details about the number of laptops, eligibility criteria and distribution dates were not provided in the announcement.
The chief minister also said 22 universities lacked vice chancellors when she assumed office, adding that appointments had since been made on merit.
For students seeking further information about provincial education initiatives, the Punjab Higher Education Department provides official information on higher education policies and programmes.
Five Buses Announced for Kinnaird College
The chief minister also announced five buses for Kinnaird College for Women, a move intended to support the institution’s transport needs and improve mobility for students.
She further announced plans to facilitate women’s access to electric bikes through easy instalments, highlighting transport accessibility as another part of the government’s efforts to expand opportunities for women.
Access to reliable transport can help students reach educational institutions and enable women to pursue work and other professional commitments. Details of the proposed electric-bike instalment arrangements, including eligibility and application procedures, have yet to be specified in the information provided.
Gold Medals Awarded at 89th Convocation
Earlier, Bishop Alexander John Malik, chairman of the college’s Board of Governors, opened the ceremony and described Maryam Nawaz as a role model for women.
During the convocation, the chief minister awarded degrees and gold medals to position-holding BS and MPhil students. Faculty members were also recognised for their contributions to teaching and research.
The ceremony celebrated the graduates’ academic achievements while highlighting broader questions of educational access, women’s safety and employment opportunities.
The laptop and bus announcements represent proposed support for students and the college. Their implementation, along with further details of the electric-bike scheme, will determine how these measures translate into practical benefits for women across Punjab.
