Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif officially launched his party’s election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday, combining political promises with light-hearted remarks as he addressed a large gathering in Muzaffarabad.
Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the former prime minister urged voters to support the PML-N in the upcoming phased AJK elections, which begin on July 27.
A Playful Remark Draws Laughter
While addressing party workers, Nawaz jokingly said that if the PML-N wins the elections, he would ask Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint him as the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The comment drew laughter from supporters before he shifted his focus to development and governance, stressing that the region deserved greater attention and investment.
Promises of Development and Higher Budget
Nawaz described Azad Kashmir as his “second home” and pledged to visit the region every three months if the PML-N forms the next government there.
He promised to personally monitor development projects and announced that the party would increase AJK’s budget by ten times compared to its current level.
According to Nawaz, the region would receive the same level of development that Punjab has witnessed over the past few years.
He also questioned why a motorway connecting Kohala and Muzaffarabad had still not been built, saying improved infrastructure would help transform the area’s economy.
Public Welfare Projects Announced
The former prime minister unveiled several initiatives aimed at improving daily life for residents.
He announced that ten electric, air-conditioned green buses would soon begin operating in Muzaffarabad, while fifteen mobile hospitals would also be introduced to improve healthcare access in remote areas.
Nawaz said his party had never discriminated between Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan or Pakistan’s provinces when launching development projects.
Maryam Nawaz Announces Youth Support
Addressing the rally, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said she felt a deep personal connection with Azad Kashmir, describing herself as Kashmiri through her family roots and heritage.
She said the PML-N was not asking for votes based on promises alone but on its record of governance and development.
Maryam announced 2,000 scholarships for students from Azad Kashmir and pledged to distribute laptops to young people to support education and digital learning.
She also promised to extend several Punjab government welfare initiatives to the region, including housing programmes, cleanliness campaigns and youth-focused projects.
Campaign Enters Full Swing
With election campaigning now underway, the PML-N leadership is presenting development, infrastructure and public welfare as the centrepiece of its campaign.
Party leaders say that if elected, they intend to accelerate investment in roads, education, healthcare and public transport while expanding economic opportunities across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
