It is no exaggeration to say that Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif has done a lot for the province’s youth. For instance the Punjab Sports Festival in Lahore, which he inaugurated, with a total prize money of Rs 20 million itself speaks volumes about his interest in empowering the next generation.
Pakistan is one of those few lucky countries in the world whose population constitutes largely of young people. There is no doubt that this section of the population can be turned into an invaluable human capital provided right opportunities are provided to them. In fact Mian Shahbaz seems an adherent of Aristotle’s dictum, ‘a sound mind in a sound body’ given that he is promoting sports as well as education. It should be pointed out that his measures including the distribution of laptops among position-holders have greatly encouraged students all over the province. The scheme has given them a new motivation to excel. In this age of research and computer-oriented education, a laptop is regarded as an indispensable item in any student’s educational gear. Similarly, there is Danish School System that has for the first time in the life of the country afforded the marginalised families a golden opportunity to turn their children into potential leaders of tomorrow. Alongside, there has been special emphasis on technical education in government-run schools across Punjab. Like the Danish Schools, the fee of the courses has been structured keeping in view the poor stratum of the society. Technical education is the need of the hour given the dire shortage of engineers and other skilled labourers in the country. Not only that. Mian Shahbaz has been considerate enough to think about the unemployed youth. The Yellow Cab Taxi scheme has been even praised internationally. This is a win-win situation since it would make the jobless men and women breadwinners and would also help the public transport sector. Last but not the least the Chief Minister must be given credit for encouraging students from Balochistan to avail of the educational facilities in Punjab. He has fixed a quota for admission and scholarships for Baloch students.
It must be mentioned that few leaders in recent times inside the country can boast of doing so much for the country’s youth. And few leaders have shown the understanding that it is in the hands of the youth where lies the future and that they have to be given the right kind of education to manoeuvre the nation out of difficult times ahead of them.