Politics & World • Politician

Maryam Nawaz

Maryam Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician and a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N).

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Maryam Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician and a senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N). In 2024, she became the first woman to serve as Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan's most populous province. She is the daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Early life and family

Maryam Nawaz Sharif was born in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, on 28 October 1973. She is the daughter of Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister of Pakistan, and is associated with the influential Sharif family's political and business network.

Political career

Maryam Nawaz entered politics in the early 2010s and played a central role in her father’s election campaign in 2013. She held a leadership role in the federal Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in 2013 before resigning after a court challenge. After the 2018 Pakistani general election, she became a prominent opposition figure and a leading member of the PML-N.

Chief Minister of Punjab

In 2024, Maryam Nawaz assumed the office of Chief Minister of Punjab, making her the first woman to hold that position in Pakistan. Punjab is the country’s most populous province, and her appointment marked a significant milestone in Pakistani provincial politics.

Legal and public profile

Maryam Nawaz has been the subject of legal proceedings and intense national attention. In 2018, she was sentenced in the Avenfield reference case, though later legal proceedings affected that sentence. She remains one of the most visible and influential women in Pakistani politics.

Key facts

First woman to serve as Chief Minister of a province in Pakistan.
Senior leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N).
Daughter of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
Played a central role in her father’s 2013 election campaign.
Sentenced in 2018 in the Avenfield reference case, later modified.

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Canadian context

Maryam Nawaz is relevant to Canadian readers through Canada’s South Asian diaspora, Canadian coverage of Pakistani politics, and broader Commonwealth political developments.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Maryam Nawaz?

Maryam Nawaz Sharif is a Pakistani politician and senior PML-N leader who became Chief Minister of Punjab in 2024.

Why is Maryam Nawaz notable?

She is notable for becoming the first woman to serve as chief minister of a province in Pakistan.

What party does Maryam Nawaz belong to?

She is a leading member of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), or PML-N.

Who is Maryam Nawaz’s father?

Her father is Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister of Pakistan.

What province does Maryam Nawaz lead?

She leads Punjab, Pakistan’s most populous province, as chief minister.

When did Maryam Nawaz enter politics?

She entered politics in the early 2010s and became especially prominent during the 2013 election campaign.

References

Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maryam-Nawaz-Sharif
Supports: Birth information, family background, and role as Chief Minister of Punjab.
DW — https://www.dw.com/en/who-is-maryam-nawaz-the-face-of-pakistans-anti-government-movement/a-55387342
Supports: Political entry in 2012, role in 2013 campaign, Youth Programme appointment, and 2018 conviction.
DW — https://www.dw.com/en/pakistan-elects-maryam-nawaz-as-first-female-chief-minister/a-68374959
Supports: Election as first female chief minister of Punjab in 2024.
Punjab Assembly of Pakistan — https://www.pap.gov.pk/members/profile/en/22/1675
Supports: Current assembly membership, party affiliation, and leader of the house role.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryam_Nawaz
Supports: General biographical details and office of Chief Minister of Punjab.