By Our Correspondent
Under the title “Maryam’s Dream … A Minority-Friendly Punjab”, a prestigious ceremony was held in Faisalabad for the distribution of educational scholarships to deserving minority students. Provincial Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, distributed scholarship cheques among 290 students from Faisalabad Division, ranging from matriculation to postgraduate.
According to details, a total of 1,016 minority students across Punjab are benefiting from this scholarship program. Intermediate students are being awarded cheques worth Rs. 30,000, while master’s degree students are receiving up to Rs. 100,000.
Addressing the ceremony, Provincial Minister Ramesh Singh Arora said that students are the bright future of Pakistan and they must represent their communities with dedication and pride. He emphasized that an educated mother is the foundation of an educated society, therefore equipping the next generation with the power of education is a collective responsibility.
The Minister highlighted that Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has a special focus on education and the Education Minister is working tirelessly for its improvement. He added that eliminating the sense of deprivation among minorities is the vision of the Punjab Government. To achieve this, Minority Cards are being provided to 75,000 underprivileged minority families, ensuring their improved access to basic facilities.
On this occasion, he also expressed concern over India’s release of 900,000 cusecs of water, which has created a flood-like situation in Punjab. He said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is personally active day and night for the relief of flood victims, while the services of Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners in this regard are exemplary.
The Minister remarked that Pakistan is the name of love, brotherhood, and harmony. He acknowledged that the Christian community has rendered remarkable services to Pakistan in the fields of education, health, and defense. He further shared that the Punjab Government has introduced free academies for digital skills and CSS preparation to empower minority youth.
Encouraging the youth, Ramesh Singh Arora said that “Work hard” the time is not far when Christian youth from Faisalabad will serve as Deputy Commissioners, RPOs, and CPOs.” He stressed that minorities are equal citizens, which is the vision of Mian Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and described minorities as “the crown of the Chief Minister’s head.” He also informed that two CSS batches have already been completed, with all expenses borne by the Punjab Government.
The ceremony was attended by MPA Qudsia Batool, former MNAs and MPAs Haji Akram Ansari, Khalid Pervaiz Gill, and Rana Shoaib Idrees, along with Additional Deputy Commissioner General Fazal Abbas, political leaders, parents, teachers, and a large number of participants.
