Punjab chief minister says government is expanding laptop schemes, scholarships, green buses, cardiac facilities and public schools beyond major urban centres. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said her government is working to extend education, healthcare and transport facilities to every city and region of the province instead of concentrating development in major urban centres. Addressing a ceremony in Jhelum to distribute laptops and Honhaar scholarships among students, Maryam Nawaz described talented students as the heroes of the day, saying their hard work and dedication had brought them success. She also praised parents for their sacrifices and efforts to provide their children with better education and opportunities. The chief minister said laptops were distributed among 115 students of a government university in Jhelum and 42 female students of a nursing college. Scholarships worth approximately Rs2.5 million were also awarded to 109 students. She said laptops, educational assistance and scholarships were students' rights rather than favours, adding that the government wanted to ensure equal opportunities for talented and deserving students so that financial difficulties did not prevent them from pursuing education. Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government was concerned about the future of children studying in approximately 50,000 government schools across Punjab. She said measures were being taken to improve the standard of public education institutions so they could compete with private schools. Citing the government Nawaz Sharif School in Attock as an example, she claimed that it was providing an educational standard better than expensive private schools. She added that similar schools were being established in 40 cities across Punjab. The chief minister also praised Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat for his efforts in the education sector, saying that providing young people with modern education and opportunities remained among the government's priorities. Speaking about transport facilities, Maryam Nawaz said students should not face difficulties travelling to educational institutions. She said free travel facilities were being provided through green buses, allowing students to commute to schools, colleges and universities. She said the green bus service was being expanded to cities across Punjab following its introduction in Lahore and Rawalpindi. The service has also been extended to Khushab, Layyah, Bhakkar, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalpur and Multan, while Jhelum is also being included in the expansion. According to the chief minister, green bus stops similar to those in Lahore and Rawalpindi have also been constructed in smaller cities to improve public transport facilities. Maryam Nawaz said the government had changed the traditional approach to distributing development funds, ensuring that districts outside major cities received an appropriate share of development projects. She said she was personally reviewing development work in different cities, including Sahiwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Attock and Jhelum. The chief minister claimed that 50,000 kilometres of roads had been constructed across Punjab over the past two years, adding that greater attention had been given to road projects in other cities compared with Lahore. Regarding healthcare, Maryam Nawaz said a cardiac laboratory had been established in Jhelum to provide modern diagnostic and treatment facilities for heart patients. She added that the government was working on a plan to provide cardiac care facilities in 25 cities across Punjab. She also said cancer hospitals were being established at every divisional headquarters, while Pakistan's first government-run cancer hospital was under construction in Lahore to improve access to treatment. The chief minister also discussed the government's scooter scheme for female students, describing transport access as important for their education and independence. She urged students receiving scooters to prioritise their safety, wear helmets and undergo proper driving training. She said the distribution of scooters had been delayed because of the large number being manufactured but added that the first phase of distribution would begin soon. Maryam Nawaz reminded female students to take care of their safety, saying their parents had raised them with considerable love and effort. Concluding her address, the chief minister urged young people to focus on education, skills and practical achievements rather than misleading narratives. She said she wanted to see the younger generation playing an active role in the country's development and bringing recognition to Pakistan through their abilities.