Posts by multiple users on social media platform They shared an image that appeared to be the cover of a book. However, the investigation showed that while images and some information have been added to the textbook, it is not only exclusive to them but also includes other prominent women.
On Saturday, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill claimed in a 36-second video clip that images and information about CM Maryam and her mother would be included in the Pakistan Studies textbook for class 10.
The title of the post read: “In Pakistan Studies, a lesson on Maryam Nawaz will also be taught.”
The post garnered more than 45,600 views and was shared 1,300 times.
PTI supporters shared similar claims, as can be seen here and here with over 80,000 and 40,000 views respectively. The posts also shared a mockup of a textbook cover featuring CM Maryam and another unidentified woman.
Furthermore, journalist Junaid Saleem highlighted the same issue on January 17 in a video on his X account where he discussed the recent changes in the 10th grade textbook.
Saleem claimed that CM Maryam included her name and that of her late mother in the section titled “Women’s Contribution to Pakistan’s Success”. He questioned why other notable figures such as former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid were not included.
A fact check was initiated to determine the veracity of a claim due to its high virality, which sparked considerable public interest, concerns about potential abuse of authority in the education sector, and lack of broader coverage in mainstream media. communication.
A keyword search was conducted using relevant words in both Urdu and English.
The search in Urdu returned news from two media outlets, Suno News and Daily Dunyaboth published on Saturday.
The updated 2025 syllabus for the 10th grade Pakistan Studies curriculum reportedly includes the contributions of prominent women to the development of Pakistan, including Fatima Jinnah and 11 others, such as former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Kulsoom, CM Maryam, Fehmida Mirza, Nusrat. Bhutto, Chief Justice of Lahore High Court, Aaliya Neelum, Bilquis Edhi, Arfa Karim, Samina Baig, Shamshad Akhtar and Nigar Johar Khan.
They added that the syllabus recognized Maryam as the first female chief minister of Punjab. These achievements, along with those of other influential women, would be presented in Chapter 8, page 163, as part of the unified curriculum that would be taught in both public and private schools.
The same was also reported in a Sunday news bulletin 92 News.
Sunrise Correspondent Imran Gabol submitted a statement from the spokesperson of the Punjab School Education Department for corroboration.
Noorul Huda confirmed the inclusion of CM Maryam and Kulsoom’s photographs, stating, “Just as the names of other influential women such as Nusrat Bhutto were added, similarly, the names and photographs of Maryam and Kulsoom were also included, highlighting their contributions to Pakistan. This has been added in the same context.”
The spokesperson also confirmed that the revised textbook is currently being printed and is not yet in circulation as it is planned for the 2025 academic year.
Mutalia Pakistan 10 PCTB Full File by Dawndotcom on Scribd
As can be seen in the online version of the new textbook, its cover does not match the mockup circulating on social networks.
According to the text of the section on “Women’s contribution to national development from 1947 to now,” Kulsoom was included for being a “brave woman” who played a role against the dictatorship in Pakistan from 1999 to 2008 under former President General Pervez Musharraf.
A blog on the Punjab government’s Honhaar Scholarship Program website titled “Maryam Nawaz named Extraordinary Woman in Matric Pakistan Studies book” also yielded the same information.
It highlighted the same update in the Pakistan Studies textbook 2025. According to the blog, the inclusion was aimed at inspiring students, especially girls, to excel in various fields.
Therefore, the fact check found that the claim that information and pictures of CM Maryam and her mother have been included only in a Punjab textbook is misleadingbecause while they are mentioned, so are other notable women.
The posts sharing the claim failed to mention the fact that CM Maryam and Kulsoom have been included along with other women for their national contributions, thus giving the impression that this was an abuse of authority for self-glorification. This could have the potential to mislead the public about inclusion in the textbook.
The mockup of the textbook’s supposed cover is also a clear fabrication, as shown by the actual online version of the revised textbook.
This fact check was originally published by iVerify Pakistan, a project of CEJ and UNDP.
