FAISALABAD (GNP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal visited the New Campus of Government College Women University Faisalabad, where he formally opened two newly built hostels for female students and administered the oath to participants of the Bano Shaheen Programme.
The two hostels together can accommodate 350 students. Officials briefed the Minister that the New Campus project was originally approved in April 2020 with a budget of Rs. 1.26 billion, but only Rs. 180 million had been disbursed during its first three years, causing significant delays in implementation. Following renewed attention to the project after 2022, fund disbursement accelerated, with Rs. 965 million released to date toward its completion.
Speaking at the event, Iqbal said ensuring women have access to quality education and improved facilities remains a government priority, given the essential role women play in national development. He described the enrollment of roughly 11,000 female students at the university as an encouraging sign for Pakistan’s future.
Addressing students taking part in the Bano Shaheen Programme, the Minister explained that the initiative is designed to help young people take an active role in identifying and resolving social issues within their communities. Under the programme, he said, teams of ten young participants are being formed to identify local challenges and work toward practical solutions.
Iqbal urged young people to stay alert to fake news and negative propaganda circulating on social media, encouraging them to verify information before believing or sharing it. He said youth should move beyond simply pointing out problems and instead become active contributors to solving them.
The Minister stressed that Pakistan’s development journey cannot be completed without making young people genuine stakeholders in national progress, noting that as the country approaches the centenary of its independence in 2047, today’s youth must play their part in building a strong, prosperous, and developed nation.
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He added that the Ministry of Planning is pursuing various initiatives aimed at equipping young people with leadership skills and creating opportunities for them to actively participate in national development, emphasizing that empowering youth as stakeholders is essential to achieving Pakistan’s long-term development goals.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
