Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, addressed students, faculty, and participants at Kohat University of Science and Technology during a consultative session held under the framework of the National Adolescent and Youth Policy. He was accompanied by Babar Saleem, the Prime Minister's Youth Coordinator for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The session was attended by university students, students from religious seminaries, representatives from the development sector, and university faculty members.
In his address, Rana Mashhood stated that Pakistan stands at a critical juncture, and as he speaks to the youth in a historic place like Kohat, it is important to remember the sacrifices made by the founders of Pakistan. He emphasized that Pakistan is an ideological state, established on the foundation of “La Ilaha Illallah” (There is no god but Allah). He pointed out that only two countries in the world were created based on ideology—Pakistan and Israel. He further highlighted that while Israel has committed extreme atrocities to preserve its ideology, Pakistan’s foundation lies in peace, equality, and tolerance.
He stated that when we witness the oppression of Muslims in occupied Kashmir, Palestine, and India, it becomes clear why our forefathers foresaw the need for a separate homeland. From the very beginning, conspiracies were hatched against Pakistan, and efforts were made to deprive it of resources, yet our elders remained resilient. Quaid-e-Azam founded the Muslim Students Federation, and through a student-led movement, Pakistan came into existence.
He recalled that in 1998, when India conducted nuclear tests, Pakistan responded with its own nuclear tests, becoming the first Islamic nuclear power. Afterwards, Pakistan's enemies tried to sow discord through sectarianism, ethnic divides, and provincialism. However, Pakistan is a unified nation under one flag, one book, and one ideology, and these conspiracies will fail.
Highlighting achievements in education, he said that when the Punjab government launched the laptop scheme, university Wi-Fi project, and initiatives to promote freelancing, there was criticism. But today, because of those steps, Pakistan ranks fourth in the world in freelancing. He praised Kohat University for its excellence in freelancing, saying it shows that future national leaders will emerge from here.
He noted that students who benefited from the Punjab Education Endowment Fund have now become doctors, engineers, and professionals contributing to various fields adding that the endowment fund will be extended to the entire country. The initiative began with Daanish Schools in Punjab and is now being expanded nationwide to ensure no child is left behind in education.
He added that with the start of the new government in 2024, an Education Emergency was declared across the country. A comprehensive strategy for education was developed with the cooperation of all provinces. A special focus was placed on integrating seminaries into the national education system so that their students can also join the mainstream of development.
Announcing the launch of the National Youth Portal, he said the portal now serves as a one-click platform for youth to access scholarships, jobs, training programs, and international opportunities. Currently, more than 150,000 job opportunities are listed on the portal. The system is fully transparent, free of favoritism, and based on merit.
He emphasized that the National Adolescent and Youth Policy will be Pakistan’s first comprehensive policy that truly reflects the needs, challenges, and priorities of young people.
For this purpose, grassroots consultations are ongoing to ensure youth participation, so the policy is not just formulated in Islamabad but based on the voices from neighborhoods, villages, universities, seminaries, and skilled youth across the country.
He also announced that in the next month and a half, he will personally visit 26 major cities, while his team will visit rural areas, universities, and community centers to gather input from the youth. Each young person will also be asked to fill out a needs-based form to ensure their perspectives are included in policy-making.
In conclusion, he urged the youth to take their future seriously, stating that those who are not serious about their future cannot be relied upon by anyone.
He advised them to focus on their education, skills, and vision to brighten the country's future.
He also promised the administration of Kohat University that after meeting with the relevant authorities in Islamabad, all possible support will be extended for the institution’s development.
