Lahore, 18 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has announced that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has launched the second phase of the laptop and scholarship schemes to support students across the province. Bokhari said the future of Pakistan’s youth was linked to technology, artificial intelligence and skills development, adding that political rallies, long marches and sit-ins could not provide young people with the opportunities they needed. She stated that Maryam Nawaz was addressing the educational and social needs of Punjab’s young men and women with the same care she would give her own children, claiming that her initiatives were increasing her popularity among the youth. The provincial information minister alleged that those threatened by the chief minister’s popularity and performance repeatedly resorted to personal attacks against her. She added that some individuals who frequently spoke about morality and values were also motivated by hostility towards Maryam Nawaz. Bokhari said the chief minister had demonstrated her performance through practical initiatives and was gaining international recognition as a result. Commenting on the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, she said what she described as an era of “fake change” and hollow slogans had come to an end. She blamed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for the province’s security challenges, alleging that the party had prioritised terrorism over national interests and peace. Bokhari further said the Pakistan Army and other security institutions were making continuous sacrifices to eliminate terrorism, adding that criticism of security institutions during such a critical period undermined the morale of security personnel. She concluded that the Pakistani nation stood firmly alongside its security forces in their efforts to maintain peace and combat terrorism.