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LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday said the province was setting benchmarks in good governance, development and progress, adding that Punjab had emerged as a leader in every field. Addressing the passing-out parade of Lady Recruit Course-18 at the Police Training College, Chung, the chief minister said Punjab was the only province where women were serving as chief minister, in the police force, and as commissioners and district police officers (DPOs). She said no force in the world could stop the progress and prosperity of a country where 51 per cent of the population actively contributed to national development. CM Punjab said she felt immense pride in the courage and determination displayed by Punjab’s daughters, describing each visit to the training college as an emotional experience. She praised the recruits for successfully completing rigorous training, including handling heavy weapons. Congratulating the families of the recruits, she said the parents deserved equal recognition for encouraging their daughters to serve the nation despite outdated social norms. “As capable as these daughters are, equally remarkable are the parents who sent them to serve the country without caring about obsolete traditions,” she said. She said the graduating batch of 1,156 women was the largest in Punjab’s history, while more than 6,000 women were already serving in the Punjab Police. The chief minister said wearing the police uniform marked the beginning of a great responsibility, which had to be fulfilled with honesty, hardwork and justice. Although she did not wear the uniform herself, she said she remained fully conscious of its dignity and sanctity. She said the government was committed to making Punjab’s cities, roads and streets completely safe for women. Expressing satisfaction over the increasing confidence of women travelling independently on scooters, she said girls going to schools, colleges and workplaces no longer needed anyone’s assistance. “Take out your bike and go, because Punjab is now safe,” she remarked. CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz claimed that the crime rate in Punjab had reached its lowest level in history. Recalling criticism when she assumed office, she said many believed governance and maintaining law and order were not the responsibility of women. “I was also told that this was not women’s work, but today the way Punjab is progressing is being cited as an example around the world,” she said. She urged the recruits not to pay attention to those who questioned their abilities and instead focus on physical fitness, professional competence and career development. She encouraged them to exercise regularly, maintain a balanced diet, and strive for higher positions in the police service. Addressing the Inspector General of Police, she called for paving the way for Punjab’s first female inspector general. “If a woman can become the chief minister, then no position is beyond reach,” she said. The chief minister said the presence of 1,156 newly-trained women officers in the field would help ensure that no woman in Punjab felt unsafe. She directed the recruits to inspire confidence among the public so that citizens felt protected whenever they saw a police officer. Referring to women entering different professions, she said many women now drove taxis independently to earn a respectable livelihood, reflecting improved security conditions in the province. CM Punjab said the Punjab Police had received record and historic investment under her government. She added that unnecessary layers of protocol had been removed and she remained in direct contact with the police force. She said she had worn the police uniform symbolically to restore the dignity and respect of the force. Whenever questions were raised about the police, she added, she had also accepted responsibility for the institution’s shortcomings. “We are one team, and it is because of this unity that Punjab is achieving remarkable progress,” she said. The chief minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had established Lahore as a Safe City through a CCTV surveillance system, while the facility was now being expanded to 40 districts across Punjab. She claimed that suspects were now being arrested within two hours and that crime-sensitive districts often went days or even weeks without any major crime being reported. She advised the recruits never to consider themselves inferior to anyone and urged them to continue improving both personally and professionally. Stressing the importance of continuous learning, she said she herself learned something new every day while managing the affairs of the state and encouraged the recruits to adopt modern methods of smart and proactive policing. Concluding her address, CM Punjab once again congratulated the parents and said the ceremony had proved that daughters were a source of pride and honour. She remarked that when a father appreciated his daughter, it became a moment of immense pride for the entire family. Addressing the graduating recruits, she asked, “Daughters of Punjab, are you alert?”