Provincial Minister for Education, Youth Affairs and Law, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said that besides provision of free laptops to the talented male and female students of colleges and universities, Punjab government has decided to give free laptops to the male and female students obtaining 78% marks and above in Matric examination this year. The distribution of laptops will be started during next ten days.
While addressing a special function in connection with International Youth Day and National Day of Minorities, arranged in collaboration with BARGAD Volunteer Network, Youth Affairs Department Punjab and United Nation Fund for Population, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said that no society can progress without education. He said that education is the top priority of Punjab government and Punjab is the role model with regard to good governance in the real sense. He said that Punjab is the only province where youth policy has been enforced under which education sector is making vigorous progress. He said that 70,000 male and female students are getting education under Punjab Educational Endowment Fund of 11 billion rupees whereas free education is being provided to 15 lakh poor children in private schools set up in far flung and backward areas of the province through education vouchers of Punjab Education Foundation. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan expressed his satisfaction that the trend of getting admission in government schools in Punjab has promoted as the educational standard of government schools has increased substantially. He told that 25 lakh children get admission in government schools in Punjab every year but this year 40 lakh children have been admitted in government schools.
While appreciating the role of minorities in creation of Pakistan, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan supported this proposal that the introductory material about the minority leaders rendering important services in various social sectors should be included in the educational syllabus of the schools. He stressed the need to act upon the teachings of Quaid-e-Azam about the rights of minorities. He said that those feeling pride of cancellation of visit of Chinese President to Pakistan due to their sit-in should realize that huge loss is being caused to the national economy.
Executive Director of BARGAD Sabiha Shaheen, representatives of a social organization “Umeed-e-Nojawan” Tom Miller, Sarwat Jehan, Abdul Saboor and Farzana Kausar also addressed the function. A large number of youth delegations all over the country also participated. Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan gave away special prizes to Rabia Afridi, representing Pakistan in United Nations General Assembly debate, Video Blogger Nimra Nasir, Ambassador of Peace Dr. Shahbaz Nisar, Miss Yasmeen Akbar from Swat and a social worker from Lasbela Qaiser Rowinja on this occasion.