Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication said that Pakistan is the one of the youngest countries in the world today with a majority of its population comprising of people below the age of 24. Investment in the youth not only has the highest rate of return but has also been recognized as the best long term investment for prosperous future of any nation. Many nations have transformed their challenge of big populations by empowering their youth with marketable skills while she was addressing at a Laptop distribution ceremony at the Kinnaird College from Women, Lahore. She said that this realization by the Government was the catalyst that crystallized the project to empower youth by giving them laptop for their academic and research activities.
Senator Ayesha Raza said that distribution of laptops is envisioned to bring a paradigm shift in the current education and research culture in the country. In this information age, Personal Computing devices like laptops are a must especially for students at the higher education level.
She also said that this program is only one of the key initiatives of the Government to harness the immense potential that a large cohort of youth offers as an engine of growth. The other schemes include Prime Minister’s Interest free Loan Scheme, Prime Minister’s Youth Business Loans, Prime Minister’s Youth Skills Development Scheme, Prime Minister’s Fee Re-imbursement Scheme for Students from Less Developed Areas.
I must say that in this age of rapid advancement in information technology, access to information has brought today’s youth closer to each other. They feel more connected to people and places across the world, have more understanding of ways of life and cultures and are therefore becoming more tolerant, more inclusive, and more diverse. They are more empathetic and companionate towards their fellow beings as compared to our generation. In the new connected world of our young people there is the awareness that the future and fate of human kind across the world is tied to one another.
Today more than ever before youth drive the ideas around issues that affect us. It is my firm belief that the collective conscience of this aware and connected mass of young people will transform the world we live in.
She said it is critical to ask the right question and seek answers that are based on bare facts. We must promote debate which is the soul of a truly democratic and tolerant society. We must respect diversity and not be afraid to embrace new ideas even if they challenge our long held beliefs and established notions.
She expressed that I am confident that tomorrow’s Pakistan that you will lead will be a truly progressive, socially aware, tolerant, and moderate society that would stand out with its head held high in the comity of nations.
Senator Ayesha Raza Farooq congratulated all students who received laptops. She said that the scheme stands out an example of the Government’s policy to recognize and uphold merit in all walks of life and to provide youth the opportunity to improve their skills in a world where soft power defines the strength, stature and standing of a nation.
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