Youth power: Pakistan has talent, says Jhagra

Urges students to work hard to achieve true progress and economic prosperity

SWABI: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra on Saturday said that Pakistan has immense potential to achieve its objective of true progress and economic prosperity.

He expressed his views at a ceremony at the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Science and Technology as chief guest in the 28th batch induction ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by Society for the Promotion of Engineering Sciences and Technology in Pakistan (SOPREST) President Shamsul Mulk,  Shakil Durrani, Executive Director Shakil Durrani Jehangir GIK Institute Rector Jahangir Bashar,  Dr Pro-Rector (Academics) Dr Habibullah Jamal, Pro-Rector (Admin and Finance) Ahsan Baseer Sheikh, academics and students.

Jhagara said that Pakistan needs competent and motivated manpower to tackle the problems of poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment. “We have to strengthen our economy and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government has given top priority to achieve the aim of a vibrant economy,” he said.

Jhagra graduated from GIK Institute said that Pakistan faces the problem of power shortage, serious water issues, and numerous other problems. If we really want to resolve these issues we have to render sacrifices and everyone should contribute by his and her own capacity, he said.

The finance minister who is grandson of former president of Pakistan and GIK founder, Ghulam Ishaq Khan said that the talented youth of Pakistan are quite capable to face the new emerging challenges with great determination.

Jhagra said that they have to fundamentally transform our institutions, especially education to achieve the outlined objectives and deliver according to the needs and requirements of the country.

Advising the young students, he said that this is the beginning of a new period of search for knowledge, a journey towards excellence and brilliance. “It is my firm belief that the future of our nation hinges on how our younger generation shape to accept the great challenge of national reconstruction and economic development,” he said.

He recalled that during his student life he had learnt to compete, to fight, to win, to display courage and take risks to deliver. “In fact, GIK prepared me for life. It’s really a great place to learn,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2018.