ISLAMABAD: Chairman of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said on Tuesday that the government was creating opportunities for young people to excel in various fields. Addressing a news conference here on Tuesday, he highlighted that initiatives, including the laptop scheme, scholarships, and Pakistan Endowment Fund, are providing the youth with valuable opportunities to progress and achieve success. He said Pakistan is destined to rise. He further stated that the government is focusing on providing investment opportunities in technical and vocational education, science and technology, information technology, agriculture, arts, design, and innovation, to enable young Pakistanis to compete effectively at national and international levels. Highlighting key initiatives, he said merit-based soft loans, innovation awards, laptops, and Daanish Schools are being utilized to expand access to opportunity and restore confidence among the youth. “These are not symbolic steps; these are structural reforms aimed at long-term impact,” he said. Mashhood said today’s Pakistani youth stands united, rejecting divisive narratives and choosing a path of progress, prosperity, and national dignity. Expressing deep sorrow over the APS tragedy, Mashhood said December 16 remains one of the darkest and most painful chapters in Pakistan’s history. He said the nation can never forget the innocent children who were martyred in the brutal attack, adding that their smiles, dreams, and futures were taken away by ruthless forces bent on destroying Pakistan. “Those children were not just students; they were the future of this nation,” he said in a tone with emotion. Mashhood said every parent in Pakistan felt the pain of APS as their own, and the tears shed that day continue to unite the nation in grief and resolve. He stressed that honouring the APS martyrs means protecting future generations through unity, vigilance, and unwavering action against extremism, ensuring that such a tragedy is never allowed to repeat itself. Strongly condemning the recent incident in Bihar, Rana Mashhood expressed deep anguish and outrage. This is not just an attack on a woman it is an attack on dignity, faith, and humanity. He said Pakistan strongly condemns the incident and takes serious notice of such acts of religious intolerance and violence. He questioned the silence of international human rights organizations, asking why those who claim to champion women’s rights and minority protection remain quiet when Muslim women are humiliated. “Our conscience does not allow us to stay silent,” he said, adding that Pakistan stands firmly with every oppressed woman and victim of injustice. Launching a sharp critique of the previous government, Rana Mashhood said that the rulers had aimed at crippling Pakistan from within by weakening institutions, distorting national direction, and eroding the foundations of the youth. He alleged that in the past, anti-state elements were deliberately facilitated and allowed space within the country despite their hostility toward Pakistan. He reaffirmed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s government and armed forces stand united in defending national interests and standing with every oppressed individual. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025