Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal visited the New Campus of Government College Women University Faisalabad, where he inaugurated two newly constructed hostels for female students and administered the oath to students enrolled in the Bano Shaheen Programme.
The two newly constructed hostels have a combined accommodation capacity of 350 students. The Federal Minister was briefed that the New Campus project was approved in April 2020 at a cost of Rs. 1.26 billion. However, during the first three years, only Rs. 180 million were released, which resulted in delays in the implementation of the project.
Following renewed focus on the project after 2022, the pace of fund releases was accelerated, and Rs. 965 million have so far been released for its completion.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal said that providing women with quality education and better educational facilities remains a priority of the government, as women play a fundamental role in the development of the country. He said that the enrollment of around 11,000 female students at the university was a positive indication of Pakistan’s bright future.
Addressing the students participating in the Bano Shaheen Programme, the Federal Minister said the initiative aims to equip young people to play an active role in identifying and addressing social issues in their communities.
Under the programme, teams comprising ten young people are being formed to identify problems in their respective areas and contribute towards finding practical solutions said Minister.
Ahsan Iqbal urged the youth to remain vigilant against fake news and negative propaganda on social media and to verify information before believing or sharing it. He emphasized that young people should move beyond merely complaining about problems and instead become part of the solution.
The Federal Minister said that Pakistan’s journey towards development could not be completed without making the youth active stakeholders in national progress. He said that as Pakistan approaches the centenary of its independence in 2047, today’s youth must play their due role in building a strong, prosperous and developed country.
He further said that the Ministry of Planning is working on various initiatives to equip young people with leadership skills and provide them opportunities to actively participate in the national development process. He stressed that empowering the youth and involving them as stakeholders in national development was essential for achieving Pakistan’s long-term development goals.
