‘I’m sure state will sail through difficult time’

How does it feel to be Punjab’s first woman chief secretary?

I have always seen myself as an officer and not so much a woman professional, but I do recognise that there has not been a woman heading the state’s bureaucracy. I do feel honoured and humbled by this.

You are going to head the state bureaucracy when it is battling Covid-19 pandemic. What are the challenges?

The challenges are national as well as global. We are facing difficult times. We are fortunate to have had a very strong leadership in the state which has taken all the right decisions. The entire bureaucracy has been working tirelessly. And, I am sure we will all continue to do so and see the state sail through this difficult time together.

There have been issues relating to bureaucracy in recent months. What’s your message to them?

I hope and expect that we will work as a team. We have talented people in the state’s bureaucracy. If we all pull together in the same direction, we will take the state to the number one position and that will be our endeavour.

Any focus areas you have in mind?

Covid-19, of course, is the top priority. Like I said, my main effort will also be to see that we all put our energies on tasks that will provide best possible governance to the citizens of Punjab. Government encompasses so many aspects that touch people’s lives and we need to be multifaceted, break silos, and work in coordination and cohesion.