LAHORE: Commenting on the government’s position on imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan has said the stance was based on concerns regarding the province’s security situation, the performance of its provincial government, and the utilisation of resources allocated for counterterrorism.
He expressed these views while visiting various stalls on the second day of the three-day book fair, organised by the University of the Punjab.
PU VC Prof Dr Muhammad Ali Shah, senior faculty members, administrative officials, and a large number of students were also present on the occasion.
Speaking to the media, he said he had listened to the parliamentary debate and speeches on the matter. According to him, members of the ruling parties and their allies had raised concerns about the spread of terrorism, the provincial government’s performance, and the use of funds allocated to combat terrorism. He emphasised that preventing the spread of terrorism and restoring peace in affected areas were essential.
He further stated that genuine reforms required state powers to be exercised by elected representatives in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution, ensuring that they could be held accountable. He said that the desired reforms would not be possible without fundamental changes to bureaucratic powers and the administrative culture.
Speaking about national security, Mr Khan said that several generations of Pakistanis had grown up under the threat of terrorism. He observed that attacks on courts, hospitals, educational institutions, markets, and public transport had severely affected society.
He said the Pakistan Armed Forces, the prime minister, and parliament were taking effective measures to eliminate terrorism and free future generations from the atmosphere of fear, enabling them to enjoy a safer future.
He emphasised that national security was of fundamental importance, adding that a secure country would create better prospects for progress in politics, the economy, and other sectors.
Talking about the book fair, he said that reading books promotes dialogue, reasoning, and creative thinking. He emphasised the need to address the rising prices of books and publishing costs to make books more accessible to young people.
Mr Khan said that the keen interest and confidence displayed by students in the book fair were encouraging and that other universities should also promote similar activities. He noted that several well-known bookstores in Lahore were gradually disappearing or being replaced by other businesses.
He said that while digital reading and artificial intelligence had their own significance, human creativity, critical thinking, and intellectual capacity remained fundamentally important.
He stressed the need to strengthen society’s ability to tolerate differences of opinion, listen to others, and present one’s viewpoint through reasoned argument.
According to him, reading books and participating in literary activities play an important role in the intellectual development of young people and in building a balanced society. He said it was wrong to label young people as misguided. They must be provided with education, employment, modern skills, and opportunities for advancement to help them achieve their aspirations.
He said that political stability, economic improvement, and peace were essential for securing a bright future for the younger generation.
Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2026
