POLITICAN
Politics is the foundation upon which nations are built. It is not simply about power; it is about responsibility, representation, and service. A society cannot progress without strong political will and leadership that protects citizens’ rights, ensures justice, and promotes development. Through politics, the dreams of a nation are transformed into laws, policies, and reforms that improve lives. For Dr. Maryam Idrees, politics is the noblest form of service to humanity. Her belief is “Leadership Knows No Gender”.
Inspiring Leadership, Empowering Voices: The Journey of Dr. Maryam Idrees
Born on May 1, 1992, in Mirpur, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Maryam Idrees grew up with a deep sense of responsibility toward her community. After completing her early education in Mirpur, she pursued higher studies at the International Islamic University Islamabad, where she completed a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a specialization in Technology and Business Administration Management, M.S in management science and now she continues her academic journey as a Ph.D. candidate in Management Science.
Alongside her academic excellence, she has always been passionate about social work, human rights, and community service. She participated as a keynote speaker in national and international programs on Kashmir issues, human rights, and women’s role in nation-building. Her activism and leadership qualities earned her awards and recognitions from educational institutions and civil society.
Currently, as Central Vice President of the Women Wing, PML-N AJK, Dr. Maryam Idrees is actively contributing to political and social development across the region.
Political Vision and Ideology of Dr. Maryam Idrees
1 . Nation Development
Nation-building is at the core of Dr. Maryam Idrees’ political ideology. She believes that a strong and prosperous state is built on the foundation of modern infrastructure, transparent institutions, and people-cantered governance. Her vision for Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) is to implement sustainable development projects that bring long-term benefits rather than short-term gains. She advocates for modernizing administrative systems, encouraging digital governance, improving road networks, investing in renewable energy, and ensuring that every development initiative directly benefits citizens. To her, development is not about constructing buildings alone it is about empowering people to lead better lives.
2 . Women Empowerment
“Empowering Women, Empowering the Nation”
Maryam Idrees strongly believes that no nation can progress without the active participation of women. Women represent half of the population, yet their voices remain underrepresented in political, social, and economic decision-making. Her vision is to create an environment where women are not only protected but also encouraged to take leadership roles in politics, business, education, and civil society. She aims to introduce skill development programs, women entrepreneurship schemes, and legal reforms to ensure protection against harassment, violence, and discrimination. For her, women’s empowerment is not limited to slogans it is about providing women equal opportunities and a safe environment to thrive.
3 . Youth for the Future
With over 60% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, youth is the backbone of the nation. Maryam Idrees envisions a Kashmir where the younger generation is empowered with education, skills, and opportunities to innovate. She wants to establish youth training centres, expand access to higher education along with scholarship programs and schemes, and promote digital and vocational skills so that young people can compete globally. She also advocates for political awareness and youth engagement in democratic processes, ensuring that the voices of the younger generation are represented in policymaking. For her, securing the future of youth means securing the future of the nation.
4 . Revenue Generation & Tourism
Azad Jammu & Kashmir is blessed with natural beauty, rich culture, and historical significance. However, its potential in tourism and revenue generation remains underutilized. Maryam Idrees envisions developing AJK into a global tourism hub by improving infrastructure, ensuring safety for tourists, and promoting eco-friendly tourism projects. She also aims to connect tourism with local businesses, handicrafts, and cultural heritage, thereby creating employment opportunities for thousands of families. By focusing on tourism, she believes AJK can generate sustainable revenue that will reduce dependency on external funding and strengthen the regional economy.
5 . Healthcare System Reforms
Health is a basic human right, yet many citizens in AJK lack access to quality healthcare. Dr. Maryam Idrees envisions a healthcare system that prioritizes women, children, and marginalized communities. She advocates for maternal and child health programs, district-level hospitals with modern facilities, mobile health units for remote villages, and affordable medicines for all. Mental health, often ignored in policymaking, is also a key focus of her vision ensuring counselling and support systems for women, youth, and victims of violence. Her belief is simple: a healthy society is the foundation of a strong and progressive nation.
6 . Education for All
Education is not only the backbone of a nation—it is the tool that transforms societies, uplifts families, and ensures a progressive future. As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Dr. Maryam Idrees strongly believes that education is the right of every child, regardless of poverty, gender, geography, or social status. For Dr. Maryam Idrees, education is not charity—it is a fundamental right and the most powerful driver of social justice, economic growth, technological advancement, and national progress.
Her educational vision is comprehensive and multi-dimensional:
- Equal Access for All:
Dr. Maryam is committed to ensuring that every child in AJK—whether living in cities, towns, or remote mountain villages—has access to quality education. Poverty, lack of resources, or being a girl should never be a reason for a child to stay out of school. - Curriculum Reforms:
She advocates for modernizing the curriculum in AJK to meet international standards, incorporating not only science and technology but also critical thinking, ethics, and civic education. Students must be prepared to compete at the global level while staying connected to their cultural and religious values. - Digital Classrooms & Technology:
In today’s era, technology is no longer optional. Maryam envisions digital classrooms, e-learning platforms, and IT-based education so that students in AJK can learn modern skills like coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital entrepreneurship. - AI & IT Integration in Education:
Dr. Maryam strongly emphasizes the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity in higher education. She believes that the youth of AJK should be future-ready, equipped with the knowledge of emerging technologies that are shaping the global economy. - Youth IT Parks & Incubation Centres:
To strengthen digital skills, she envisions IT parks, start-up incubators, and innovation hubs in AJK universities where students can develop apps, AI-based solutions, and digital businesses, creating employment opportunities for themselves and others. - Teacher Training & Development:
Teachers are the builders of the nation. She believes in continuous professional development programs for teachers, so they are equipped with modern teaching methodologies, blended learning approaches, and tech-based solutions to inspire young learners. - Scholarships & Financial Support:
Thousands of talented children are left behind due to financial barriers. Maryam supports government-funded scholarships, fee waivers, and stipends for underprivileged students, especially for girls in higher education. - Vocational & Technical Training:
To tackle unemployment, she plans to strengthen vocational training centers where youth can learn practical skills like IT, hospitality, tourism management, agriculture technology, and renewable energy. - Universities & Research Development:
She emphasizes promoting research, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the university level. Students should not only graduate with degrees but also with business ideas, start-ups, and leadership qualities to contribute to the economy. - Girls’ Education as a Priority:
Dr. Maryam believes that educating a girl means educating an entire family. She envisions special initiatives for girls’ schools, hostels, safety, and scholarships to ensure that every girl child continues her studies without fear or financial hurdles. - Global Competitiveness:
By investing in education today, Maryam envisions that AJK’s youth will not only serve locally but will also compete globally, becoming leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in the international arena.
7 . Human Rights and Justice
At the heart of Maryam Idrees’ political ideology is her commitment to human dignity and justice. She believes that every citizen—regardless of gender, religion, or social background—deserves equal rights and opportunities. Her political vision includes strengthening laws against domestic violence, child abuse, and gender discrimination. She also advocates for freedom of speech, access to justice, and the protection of minority rights. For her, politics without justice is meaningless, and leadership without humanity is incomplete. She stands for a political system where no citizen is deprived of their fundamental rights.
Why she Chose Politics
Maryam’s political journey is not just about today—it is about building a sustainable and prosperous tomorrow for the people of Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan.
Throughout her journey as a student, activist, and community worker, she observed one undeniable reality: women in Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan have been left behind because they are not equally represented in politics. Even though many women today are educated, professional, and capable, very few choose to step into politics. This hesitation, whether due to societal pressure, cultural barriers, or the belief that “politics is only for men,” has resulted in a silence that has cost women their basic rights. Infect absence of women’s participation has created a vacuum in women issues, voices, and perspectives often go unheard.
When men dominate the political arena, they naturally prioritize what they understand best: economic, infrastructure, and power-related issues. But the unique challenges faced by women such as healthcare, education access, workplace harassment, maternal health, domestic violence, lack of women-friendly laws, and the absence of support for women entrepreneurs or equal opportunities remain neglected as these are lived experiences that only women can articulate. she noticed that on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, human rights, especially women’s rights, were rarely discussed. No one was truly raising their voice for half of the population, and that silence deeply disappointed me. She realized that if educated women do not come forward and take responsibility, our daughters and future generations will continue to suffer under the same outdated system. Women’s problems will remain “private issues” instead of being recognized as national priorities. She also realized that until educated women step forward, until we accept our responsibility as leaders, policies will continue to ignore the most vulnerable segments of society. This realization became the turning point of my life. She chose politics not for power or position, but as a duty towards her women, youth, and nation.
This is why she chose politics—not as a career, but as a mission.
For her, women’s rights are human rights. If half of the population is left behind, no nation can truly progress. By entering politics, I committed myself to breaking this silence, to making sure women’s voices are heard in every debate, every decision, and every law that governs our society. In choosing politics, she chose responsibility, she chose service, she chose to become a voice for those who have been voiceless for too long. We can say she entered politics to stand where others stayed silent—to bring women’s issues to the forefront, to challenge outdated systems that overlook human rights, and to prove that women can not only participate but also lead and transform society. Her vision is to break the cycle of silence by ensuring women’s voices echo in every policy discussion, every legislative session, and every decision that shapes our future.
Personal Message
“Politics is not about power—it is about responsibility, service, and shaping the future of our nation. I entered politics to give voice to those who have been unheard for too long: our women, our youth, and the most vulnerable in society.
I believe that every girl deserves education, every woman deserves protection and opportunity, and every young person deserves a chance to shine. I dream of a Kashmir where women lead with confidence, children receive quality education regardless of their background, healthcare is a right, and innovation and technology drive our progress.
To all educated girls: our nation needs you in politics. Your knowledge, perspective, and courage are the keys to transforming society. When women step forward, laws, policies, and programs reflect the real needs of half the population. Dear women your participation is not just your right, it is your duty to your community, your family, and your nation.
I invite every citizen, especially young men and women, to join me in this journey. Together, we can transform AJK into a society where justice, equality, and prosperity are not aspirations but realities. Let us work hand in hand to create a future we can all be proud of—a future where every child, woman, and man has the opportunity to thrive.”
Dr. Maryam Idrees
Central Vice President, Women’s Wing PML-N AJK
