ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan Monday termed the country’s youth as the biggest asset and vowed to empower and uplift them.
The prime minister expressed these views during the launching ceremony for the Ehsaas Undergraduate Scholarship Programme. He also gave away scholarship letters to a few students during the ceremony.
The premier said that a humane society is the one which looks after the interests of the underprivileged. “How can you identify a civilised society? The identity of a civilised society is not determined by how the rich live, it is determined by how the poor live. This is what draws a distinction between a humane society and one that is animalistic.”
He continued that this is what happened in Medina. The state took responsibility for the poor, even though it was weak. They had no means, and no money but they had ehsaas (care). Likewise, the State of Medina understood the importance of education, he said. This scholarship programme is following that roadmap, he added.
The prime minister said that empowering all segments of society would be the priority of his government. “This programme is just another step towards achieving that goal […] it is specifically for those students who don’t have the means for higher education.
He said that Pakistan has been blessed with a multitude of things, but the biggest asset is the country’s youth.
Commenting on the initiatives taken by the PTI government, the premier said that the health cards initiative and the shelter homes set up by the government are some of the measures that have been taken to empower the people.
He said the government is also working towards empowering women in villages. These programmes have been realised through a lot of hard work, and will operate solely on merit, keeping political affiliations aside, he added.
Earlier, sharing key features of the program at a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Sania Nishtar said it is the country’s biggest ever need based scholarship program for the undergraduates. She said fifty thousand scholarships will be given each year to the deserving students of 119 public sector universities across the country including Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. A total of two hundred thousand students will benefit from this program. Sania Nishtar said that fifty percent quota has been fixed in the undergraduate scholarship program for the women whilst two percent for the disabled persons.
She said the scholarship program covers the tuition fee, and four thousand rupees will be given to the students as a monthly stipend.
The special assistant said that over one hundred and thirty two thousand students have applied for the scholarship.
She said the whole process has been completed transparently with the cooperation of Higher Education Commission. She said the HEC online portal for the receipt of scholarship applications for the next year will be opened this June.
Sania Nishtar said that various programs have been launched under Ehsaas program to steer the poor people out of poverty.
Speaking on the occasion, PTI leader Shahbaz Gill said the government is giving special focus to bring improvements in the health and education sectors.
Meanwhile,
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan has taken yet another step for the betterment of Pakistanis, those earning minimum wages would now be given additional support to buy regular use edibles for the household.
According to details, those earning below 25,000 rupees per month will be given 25% support in terms of subsidies and concessions on regular use products like wheat, sugar, maize, millets, oil etc.
The decision was undertaken in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Imran Khan himself.
PM Imran Khan took the decision after taking briefings from representatives of relevant authorities and then issued directives to allocate a special amount for subsidised regular use commodities in the upcoming budget which shall then be designated to the needy and deserving.
Ministry of Finance and PM Imran Khan’s poverty alleviation team has been handed down the task.
PM Imran Khan on the occasion stated that it is his mission and obligation to ensure that no one in Pakistan sleeps hungry.
The decision would be implemented in the federal capital along with the provinces by the orders of the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, talking to Saudi Deputy Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz who called on him here Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the global community to play its active role in preventing aggressive policies and Hindutva ideology of RSS-inspired BJP government in Indian-occupied Kashmir.
About Pak-Saudi relations, the Prime Minister underscored the special significance of the bilateral relationship, which is based on close fraternal ties, historic links, and support at the grassroots level.
The deputy defence minister for Saudi Arabia delivered an important message from the monarchy to the premier during the meeting.
The meeting underscored the relationship between Saudi Arab and Pakistan with an emphasis on building and enhancing mutual cooperation.
PM Imran Khan on the occasion said that Saudi Arabia has been an all-weather friend for Pakistan. He hailed the growing economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and called it a mutually beneficial development.
The prime minister said recent targeted killings of Muslims in New Delhi and the desecration of their places of worship are matter of grave concern for entire global community.
The prime minister underscored that the Indian government is engaged in systematic efforts to discriminate against marginalize and disenfranchise minorities, particularly Muslims.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) Pir Sibghatullah Rashidi, commonly known as Pir Pagara, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan here on Monday.
Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and Pir Sadaruddin Shah were also present on the occasion.
Political affairs of Sindh and solution of people’s problems were discussed in the meeting.
Pir Pagara appreciated the Prime Minister for taking interest in welfare of the people of Sindh and overall development of the province as well as the steps taken by the federal government.
The participants requested the Prime Minister to extend scope of Kifalat Program under Ehsaas Programme in Sindh.
Meanwhile, Chairing a meeting on restructuring of the railways at the PM House in Islamabad, PM Imran Khan on Monday renewed the government’s resolve to turn the loss-making Pakistan Railways into a profitable national entity. He emphasized the need for revamping the institution in order to make it operational and profitable.
Noting that the railway’s progress is vital for the growth of the country, he issued directives for ironing out a comprehensive plan in consultation with his Adviser on Institutional Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain to revamp the railways.
The prime minister expressed concern over the loss of lives in recurring train accidents. Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed, Dr Ishrat Hussain and other relevant officers were in attendance in the meeting.
The premier was briefed on a reduction in the railways’ deficit and an increase in the number of passenger coaches, public-private partnership initiatives and facilities being provided to passengers. – TLTP, NNI