Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Program, stated that the Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, is currently stationed at the borders alongside his troops to protect Pakistan. He emphasized that the entire nation stands united with the armed forces in defending the country. He asserted that Pakistan is not a weak nation; it has the right to defend itself and knows how to safeguard its rights.
Rana Mashhood made these remarks during his address at the "Consultation on National Adolescence and Youth Policy" organized under the Prime Minister's Youth Program at Bahauddin Zakariya University. The event was attended by students, teachers, and others from various universities and colleges in Multan.
He highlighted that as Pakistan’s economy began to recover and the world began to take notice, efforts were made to destabilize the country by reviving terrorism. These attempts to block investment through terrorism were unsuccessful, and when India fabricated the false Pulwama incident to malign Pakistan, the international community rejected the Indian propaganda. He emphasized that Pakistan is now on a path of progress and does not need to engage in petty tactics. He noted that Pakistan has successfully countered India’s lies and foiled Indian conspiracies.
Rana Mashhood also mentioned that India had threatened to block Pakistan’s water supply. When India took action to stop Pakistan’s water, Pakistan highlighted India’s disregard for United Nations resolutions. He emphasized that Pakistan, being a nuclear power, knows how to respond to such threats and is fully capable of defending its rights.
He criticized the international community for its silence over the atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians, and for the persecution of Muslims and minorities in India. He called the global indifference to these issues highly condemnable.
Rana Mashhood added that today, Pakistan faces the threat of war, but the Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, is actively defending the nation at the borders. He assured that the entire nation stands alongside the armed forces for the protection of the country.
He further stressed that Pakistan’s forces, politicians, and citizens are united in their commitment to national security. He emphasized that the youth of Pakistan are the nation's most valuable asset, and it is essential to provide them with opportunities for growth and success. He urged that every field must offer opportunities for the youth to excel.
Rana Mashhood pointed out that during the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League (N), the Punjab Youth Policy was developed with education being given the utmost importance. He noted the establishment of women’s universities across Punjab, the promotion of technical education in 2011, and the launch of scholarships through the Punjab Education Endowment Fund (PEEF), which has benefited millions of students. He also highlighted the provision of laptops to students in Punjab, and how many of these students, having studied through the PEEF, are now excelling on the global stage.
He mentioned the successful reduction of 18-20 hours of power outages that Pakistan had been struggling with during 2011-2013, and praised the youth of South Punjab for showcasing their talents and making the country proud.
Rana Mashhood emphasized that while slogans are easy to chant, it is much harder to deliver results. He commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for working tirelessly to provide every possible facility to the youth of Pakistan. He also shared that the Talent Hunt program for the 2028 Olympics is ongoing and that the government is committed to providing education, skills, and opportunities to the youth. He encouraged students to register on the Digital Youth Hub to access global scholarship opportunities. He assured that the federal government will distribute laptops to students by June, and the Punjab government will also soon provide laptops to students. Additionally, he assured that students from madrassas will also receive technical education.
Rana Mashhood spoke about the National Innovation Awards, which will help bring youth ideas to the forefront, and connect them with the best institutions worldwide. He also shared his vision for promoting Pakistani youth in international sports, particularly in the 2028 Olympics, where he is hopeful that Pakistan will bring home several medals.
He stressed that students from madrassas have the same rights as other children and that they will also be integrated into national programs. He announced the introduction of technical education programs specifically for madrassa students.
Rana Mashhood concluded by stating that all provinces have developed their own youth policies, and now, a unified national policy is being implemented to address the challenges faced by children in all regions of Pakistan. He emphasized that national development requires the engagement of all segments of society and that progress can only be achieved through hard work, determination, and commitment. He also remarked that there is a clear distinction between mischief and disrespect, and that the latter is detrimental to progress.
Following the event, Rana Mashhood visited the Sports Complex at Bahauddin Zakariya University, where he reviewed the ongoing trials under the Talent Hunt Program for the Youth Boxing Sports League. He stated that special attention is being given to education as well as sports. Through the Sports Talent Hunt Program, he assured that talented students would be prepared and showcased globally. He also emphasized that sports help teach discipline and foster determination. He praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Mian Muhammad Hamza Shehbaz for their efforts to promote Pakistan’s talent globally.
Additionally, he visited the under-construction hockey ground at the university and reviewed the ongoing progress.
