KARACHI, Dec 22: Eighteen best scouts of the country were awarded president’s gold medal at an impressive ceremony held at the Governor’s House here on Saturday morning.

Acting Sindh Governor Syed Saeed Ashhad presented the medals to these scouts for 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Speaking on the occasion, the governor said scouting is an international movement and the fact is that no movement can succeed unless its utility is fully established.

As such, he said, this successful movement not only continues to exist, but also gradually progressing.

He said Quaid’s becoming the first chief scout of Pakistan was a testimony to the fact that he had full belief in the reformative aspect of this movement and, therefore, he patronised it and described it useful for the youth and children.

The governor noted with delight that the number of scouts is growing in the country and they are in the forefront while taking part in welfare activities.

He observed that camping, hiking and other technical skills in a natural environment alongwith simple life do form the part of a scout’s character and they always remain alert to face any odd with forbearance.

Justice Saeed Ashhad said that scout promise and laws are in fact the golden principles of Islam which, if followed, would make our children a good citizen and a good Muslim.

Continuous training helps them make them a courageous and practical man, he added.

He said that historic message of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah also attracts our attention and warrants practical action.

The governor emphasised that scouting movement teaches us the lesson of allegiance to our religion and the ‘millat’ at the same time and hoped that they will practice scouting in real sense by keeping these principles in view.

Justice Saeed Ashhad said that our youth are the best asset of the nation. They are the focus and centre of the thinking of the Quaid-i- Azam and Allama Iqbal.

And according to Iqbal “Zara Num Ho To Ye Matti Bari Zarkhez Hai Saqi” is, in fact, a pointation towards our youth that their proper training is our foremost responsibility.

The governor paid tributes to Pakistan Boy Scouts Association and the organisers on successful holding of Quaid-i-Azam National Yekjehti scout rally.

Those who were awarded the medals were:

Year 1997: Jawad Ahmed Khan (AJK), Dawood Shah (Balochistan), Syed Waqas Ali Shah (Islamabad), Shafqat Shiraz (PIA), Mohammed Ishaq Noor (NWFP), Syed Zeeshan Ali Hyder (Sindh), Muhammed Umer (Railway).

Year 1998: Asif Hassan (AJK), S. Mohammed Faheem Alam (Balochistan), Muslim Khan (NWFP), Ghulam Hussain (Railway) Hafizur Rehman (Punjab).

Year 1999: Mohammed Sabir Chishti (AJK), Hafiz Hussain Ahmed (Balochistan), Saqib Habib Malik (Islamabad) , Dad Mohammed (NWFP), Saeed Ahmed (Railway), S. Kazim Ali Shah (Sindh).

Earlier, Prof Anita Ghulamali, provincial education minister and vice president Sindh Boy Scouts Association presented the welcome address.—APP