Maryam Nawaz’s recent trip to Switzerland, where she joined family members including her father and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has sparked intense criticism from the opposition. Maryam, the Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province, traveled to Europe on Wednesday night, even as cities like Lahore and Multan struggle with hazardous smog levels, making Punjab one of the world’s most polluted regions.
The opposition has condemned her trip, with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Advisor Ali Saif alleging that Maryam traveled in a private jet filled with luggage and trunks, while citizens in Punjab suffer from extreme air pollution. Saif criticized the Sharif family’s “royal expenses” amid the country’s crisis, accusing them of failing to establish adequate healthcare facilities during their time in power.
In response, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated that Maryam was in Geneva for a thyroid checkup and is expected to visit London with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief before returning next week.
Pakistan’s severe smog crisis has forced a “smog calamity” declaration in Punjab, with schools closed until November 17 and a complete ban on entry to parks, zoos, playgrounds, and historical sites. The Air Quality Index recently soared to 1914 in Multan and peaked at 970 in Lahore, leaving residents in a lockdown-like situation. A petition filed by three-year-old Amal Sekhera in Lahore High Court highlights the toll on children and vulnerable populations, urging the government to fulfill its duty to protect citizens’ right to a clean environment under Article 99-A of the Constitution.
