Youth policy: 2,264 IUB evening students get laptops

5,135 post graduates get Punjab Youth Internship letters.

BAHAWALPUR:

Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif distributed 2,264 laptops among evening students at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) on Wednesday. He also gave Punjab Youth Internship letters to 5,135 post graduate students at the university.

The chief minister also announced three-to-six-month apprenticeships at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat and government departments for five IUB students recommended by its administration. This, he said, would help them better understand the working of the ministries.

The chief minister said he hoped the youth would play their role in ridding the nation of corrupt leaders.

Expressing confidence in the youth of Pakistan, Sharif said they will always have his support. Likewise, he said, he was confident that they (youth) would support him in his crusade against corruption.

“I am here to show my belief in the youth who can make this country self-reliant,” he said.

He said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had always fulfilled its promises to the people. He announced that the government would create more government internship opportunities for unemployed youth with post graduate degrees. He said the government was committed to distributing 250,000 laptops worth Rs8 billion among students selected on merit. He said even if only 25,000 students achieved the purpose of this scheme, he would consider it successful.

The chief minister said that he believed in providing educational and employment opportunities without any discrimination. He said the Punjab Endowment Funds and Danish Schools had especially been established for children from the less privileged backgrounds.

“The provincial ministers and I travel on our personal expense so that the amount can be added to the scholarships fund.”

He said he valued education of girls and welcomed women in professions.

“I request the parents to allow their daughters to study and work instead of staying at home so they can contribute to national progress like their male counterparts,” he said.

The chief minister also announced plans for Sir Sadiq Abbasi Post Graduate Medical College in Bahawalpur. The college will work under the Islamia University Bahawalpur as a teaching hospital for the under construction 410-bed District Headquarters hospital. The chief minister said that the PML-N will continue its struggle to root out corruption from the society.

The event concluded with singing of a patriotic song.

Later, the chief minister visited Mubarakpur to condole with the families of 26 people who died in a road accident a week ago. He announced a grant of Rs500,000 for the heirs of each of the deceased and Rs75,000 each for the four people injured in the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 8^th, 2012.