Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has responded to criticism over photographs of development projects in Narowal by sharing three aerial videos of the city, challenging social media users who questioned whether the original images were generated using artificial intelligence (AI).
The controversy began after Maryam Nawaz shared photographs of Narowal on her official X account on November 1, 2026. The images attracted criticism online, with users pointing to apparent visual inconsistencies, including vehicles seemingly moving along sidewalks and unclear lettering on roadside billboards.
The criticism raised questions about the authenticity of the images and whether AI-generated visuals had been used to portray development in the Punjab city.
On November 3, the chief minister shared three videos showing different parts of Narowal, directly addressing those who had questioned the earlier photographs.
In her Urdu-language post, she wrote, “Narowal! For the eyes of all those who said this was AI. Do such good work that people think it is AI.”
The videos were presented as visual evidence of the city’s development and included aerial footage of roads, landscaped areas and other urban improvements.
Maryam Nawaz Shares Aerial Footage of Narowal
The videos shared by the Punjab chief minister show a landscaped roundabout featuring flowerbeds, palm trees and a central monument.
Other footage highlights roadside bus stops, painted road markings and improved urban roads carrying regular traffic.
The videos were intended to address doubts surrounding the earlier photographs by providing additional visual footage of Narowal.
However, the chief minister did not provide a detailed explanation of the visual inconsistencies identified by social media users in her original post.
Original Development Pictures Triggered Social Media Debate
Maryam Nawaz’s November 1 post featured images highlighting development in Narowal. The photographs quickly attracted attention, with some users questioning whether they accurately represented conditions in the city.
Among the issues raised were vehicles appearing to travel on sidewalks and billboard lettering that seemed distorted or unreadable.
Such visual irregularities are commonly associated with AI-generated imagery, although they are not, by themselves, conclusive proof that an image was created using artificial intelligence.
The discussion subsequently shifted towards the authenticity of the photographs and the use of digital visuals in government communications.
No Independent Verification of Original Images
Although Maryam Nawaz has shared additional footage of Narowal, the videos do not independently establish whether the original photographs were AI-generated or digitally altered.
The chief minister has also not publicly explained the specific visual inconsistencies highlighted by critics.
The latest exchange has renewed discussion about the use of artificial intelligence in political communication and the importance of authentic visual evidence when governments promote public development projects.
For now, the three videos provide additional footage of Narowal’s roads and urban infrastructure, while questions surrounding the original photographs remain unanswered.
