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Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Madrassas integrated in youth policy
Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Program, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, has emphasized the integration of madrassas into the national mainstream, praising the foundational education provided by these institutions. The Prime Minister's Youth Program conducted a Consultative Session on the National Adolescent and Youth Policy at the Institute of Management Sciences (IM Sciences) here on Monday. The session was led by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan and attended by students, faculty members, religious scholars, and key stakeholders from various sectors. During his comprehensive and passionate address, Mashhood emphasized the pivotal role of the youth in nation-building. He stated that despite the historical challenges faced by Pakistan, today's youth hold the power to transform the country's future. He noted the resilience of the people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the face of terrorism, climate change, and economic challenges and praised their determination to move forward with hope and strength. He stressed that Pakistan was created with a vision of equality, unity, and opportunity, and today, the nation must return to those founding principles. Referring to the global and regional challenges faced by countries like Syria, Iraq, and Palestine, he underlined the importance of unity and inclusive development to prevent internal discord and ensure national progress. A key focus of the address was the launch of Pakistan's first National Adolescent and Youth Policy, developed through wide-scale consultation and inclusive planning. Mashhood announced a 26-city youth engagement tour aimed at involving youth from all walks of lifeincluding university students, technical workers, madrassa students, and out-of-school youthin policy development and implementation. He highlighted key initiatives under the Prime Minister's Youth Program, aimed at empowering young Pakistanis through targeted support and opportunities. These include the Digital Youth Hub, a comprehensive online platform offering scholarships, internships, job listings, and personalized career guidance; the largest-ever national effort to expand technical and vocational training, preparing youth for global employment markets; the National Employment Policy, which aligns federal and provincial strategies to guarantee decent work opportunities; and a firm commitment to girls' education, underscored by Pakistan's international agreements with OIC nations to ensure that no child is denied education due to a lack of resources. He called for the rejection of any narrative that creates divisions within the Pakistani society, stressing that unity, discipline, and faith are essential for progress.
Voice of America
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Voice of America
Afghan women take scholarship tests offered by Pakistan
It took Susan Salih about eight hours to travel from Kabul, Afghanistan, to Peshawar, Pakistan, to take a scholarship exam the Pakistani government offers to Afghan students. Salih, 25, and a group of other young Afghan women who took the exam at the Institute of Management Sciences in Peshawar told VOA that despite being able to take the test online, they traveled, accompanied by family members, to sit for the exam in person "to not miss the opportunity." "I hope this will pay off at least for those girls who now have the chance [to pursue their higher education]," said Salih, who could not pursue her dream of a post-graduate degree in Afghanistan after the Taliban banned women from attending universities in 2022. Pakistan's Higher Education Commission said about 5,000 young women were among 21,000 applicants for the 2,000 scholarships announced for Afghan students. These scholarships are part of the 4,500 Allama Muhammad Iqbal Scholarships for Afghan Students, the commission said. The Pakistan government said the undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are fully funded, covering tuition fees, hostel dues, and living, book and travel allowances. Tests for the scholarships took place in-person and online on Saturday and Sunday in Peshawar and Quetta. Muhammad Waqar Khan, senior project manager at the Higher Education Commission, said students will be "short-listed" for scholarships based on merit. "After this [the tests], we will conduct interviews" with those students, Khan said. Pakistani officials earlier told VOA on the condition of anonymity that the Taliban agreed to let female students pursue higher education in Pakistan, provided that their male guardians are granted visas to accompany them. But the Taliban, who seized power of Afghanistan in 2021, denied Monday that they reached any "conditional agreement" regarding the scholarships. The Taliban have "no agreement with Pakistan or any other country regarding scholarships for girls. ... Such unfounded claims are propaganda by certain malicious groups against the Islamic Emirate," said a statement posted on the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education website. The Taliban banned women from traveling long distances without a chaperone, working with the government and nongovernment organizations, and going to public baths, beauty salons and public parks. Pakistan's Higher Education Commission said the scholarships aim to "strengthen [the] bilateral relationship" between the two countries. Salih said these scholarships offer Afghan women hope. "We want to be a beacon of hope for those still in Afghanistan," said Salih, adding that "even in tough times and with many limitations, there is always hope and a path forward." Ayaz Gul contributed to this report.
