Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, announced that the government is committed to providing the youth with advanced education

*NAROWAL* – Federal Minister for Planning and Development, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, announced that the government is committed to providing the youth with advanced education, digital training, and equal employment opportunities to prepare them for future challenges. He emphasized that nations with fewer resources have surpassed Pakistan because of their political stability and continuity of policies. In contrast, Pakistan has suffered from internal discord and extremism due to political instability and lack of policy continuity. The minister highlighted that visionary long-term plans like Vision 2010 and Vision 2025 were never fully implemented.

Speaking at the University of Narowal during a ceremony where laptops were distributed to students under the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, Professor Iqbal criticized the 2018 elections, labeling them as fraudulent and responsible for imposing an incompetent government on Pakistan. This government, he stated, wreaked havoc on the economy, causing immense suffering for the 240 million citizens. However, he noted, the current government has realigned the country’s direction, bringing stability and improvement across various sectors. Economic ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, and China are being restored, and the stock market is reaching new heights, reflecting the confidence of both domestic and international investors in the government’s policies.

Professor Iqbal further articulated the government’s vision to provide a digital platform to the youth, enabling them to propel Pakistan into the world’s top ten economies by its 100th anniversary. Record funds have been allocated for higher education, with plans to establish universities in every district and institutions for technical education. Laptops are being distributed on merit, with options for students to purchase on easy installments if they do not qualify on merit. The initiative aims to equip the youth with digital technology for employment.

Addressing the issue of intolerance and unrest in Pakistan, a country founded in the name of Islam, he stressed that Islam signifies peace and brotherhood. The organization and harmony in the universe exemplify these principles. By adopting these principles of organization and mutual cooperation, society can achieve peace and progress. He called for maintaining individual identities while fostering respect and love. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught forgiveness and cooperation instead of violence and retribution. Justice and forgiveness should be our guiding principles, and no individual other than the state should take the law into their own hands. Differences should lead to dialogue, not hatred. For prosperity, creating a peaceful society is essential. He urged students to prioritize research over merely obtaining degrees, expressing pride in the day their research articles are published in international journals.

Professor Iqbal praised the University of Narowal as a model of social progress, women’s empowerment, and economic development. Between 2013 and 2018, several university campuses were established in various districts of Balochistan. He condemned the four-year government imposed through rigged elections for causing severe economic and social damage to Pakistan, using social media to spread propaganda and poison the minds of the youth. This so-called ‘change government’ brought nothing but destruction, halting all ongoing projects, which have now doubled in cost. Misinformation on social media has divided the public, but we must resist this turmoil. No country can progress without peace, stability, continuity of policies, and a reform agenda.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the government has swiftly corrected the country’s course, restoring investor confidence, and improving the stock market. Professor Iqbal noted that Pakistanis are hardworking and intelligent, yet a so-called leader has branded the entire nation as thieves and robbers via social media. As part of the Prime Minister’s Laptop Scheme, Professor Iqbal distributed laptops to 77 students at the University of Narowal. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Muhammad Younas Rana, in his welcome address, lauded Professor Iqbal’s exemplary contributions to education and thanked him for providing excellent educational facilities to the students of the University of Narowal. The event was attended by students, their parents, National Assembly member Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, Provincial Assembly member Ahmad Iqbal Chaudhry, Pir Syed Azhar-ul-Hassan Gillani, and notable figures from the political, social, and academic spheres.