LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced an increase of Rs100 billion in the amount of ‘Honhaar Scholarship Programme’.

She also announced an increase of additional 20,000 ‘Honhaar Scholarships’ from next year along with the provision of interest-free loans up to Rs30 million for new businesses and start-ups for the youth. She was speaking at the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, on Monday.

She said 100,000 e-bikes would be given to students from next year along with establishing e-bike charging stations in the universities and colleges of Punjab.

“If we look after the youth’s affairs we can change the destiny of Pakistan. We will remove all obstacles in the path of the youth to ensure a better future for them. I was surprised to see young children learning Artificial Intelligence in China. We will teach our children AI, robotics and other modern IT sciences. Many market-based training programmes have also been launched for the youth. Internship programmes in agriculture, environment and other fields have been started for the students,” she said.

Maryam Nawaz said the Punjab government would give loans to the children so that they did not become a burden on their parents by studying and doing business. “We are shifting the transport culture towards e-vehicles so that the people of Punjab can breathe clean air. If any child remains deprived of education, I will deem it my failure. Students, especially girls, are being provided buses for their transportation. It is a matter of immense pleasure that girls are getting 60 per cent Honhaar Scholarships.”

The Punjab government will introduce a laptop scheme for the children soon and the first batch of laptops has arrived, she said. “We will also give international scholarships to the youth. The Honhaar Scholarships are given 100 per cent on merit.”

CM Maryam also chided the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf for its ‘politics of destruction’. “The youth who set public properties to fire and torture the policemen cannot be the friends of the state. The youth should not be misled or be exploited by anyone. The children involved in vandalism came out of prison after apologising, which is deeply regrettable. Having a dissenting view in a democracy is not forbidden, but one should not abandon the path of morality.”

LAND MAFIA: The CM has directed the authorities concerned to launch an operation across the province to reclaim government lands from illegal occupiers.

She ordered recovery of all state lands without succumbing to any pressure or political influence.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2025