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LAHORE, Dec 14 (APP):Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said that sports, especially gymnastics, are vital for promoting physical fitness, discipline and self-confidence among the youth.
He added that the government was fully committed to supporting initiatives that positively engage children and steer them towards education and healthy activities.
Addressing the ceremony of the 13th Inter-School Gymnastics Championship 2025, here on Sunday, Rana Mashhood lauded the participation of leading educational institutions, including Pakistan International Public School (PIPS), Abdullah Schools, Abubakar School, and appreciated the efforts of the organisers
including Umair, Roheel and Nina, for successfully holding the event.
He said taking care of children, guiding them towards education and involving them in healthy pursuits
was not only a societal responsibility but also a vital obligation of the government, which was extending full support to such initiatives.
The PMYP chairman said he attended the event to encourage and support positive youth-focused activities, stressing that Pakistan had faced repeated attempts to undermine its progress.
Referring to the recent punishment awarded to Faiz Hameed, Rana Mashhood described it as the beginning of a new chapter in Pakistan’s history, saying that it reflected accountability and the strengthening of democratic norms. He recalled that in 2017 a democratic government was removed and then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif was disqualified in a false case, adding that recent developments signified the vindication of the nation and the supremacy of the democratic process. He said no institution could now be used for political engineering, nor could the democratic process be obstructed. He emphasised the need for strict accountability of those involved in the May 9 incidents, attacks on state foundations and foreign-funded activities, asserting that national security and stability would not be compromised.
Rana Mashhood said Pakistan’s journey towards development had begun, citing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Turkmenistan where, he said, Pakistan received respect and achieved diplomatic successes. He expressed confidence that the fruits of national progress would reach grassroots levels, including children and youth, and said the government was working day and night towards this goal.
He said that accounts spreading falsehoods and propaganda against Pakistan were being operated from India, Israel and other hostile countries, and said action against such elements had already begun. He maintained that it would no longer be tolerated that while Pakistan’s armed forces were sacrificing lives to protect borders and ensure peace, a handful of foreign-backed operatives attempted to destabilise the country internally.
He said the nation was united and determined that accountability of such accounts would be ensured, adding that recent decisions had made it clear that anti-Pakistan voices would have no space in the country.
He said the federal and Punjab governments had launched wide-ranging initiatives in education, technical training, IT and youth support to positively engage young people and provide them with opportunities. He expressed optimism that within the coming months Pakistan’s youth would emerge as leaders on the global stage.
To another query, he said the Prime Minister’s Sports Talent Hunt Programme had been launched across 23 sports in collaboration with all provinces, attracting hundreds of thousands of boys and girls, particularly in boxing and cricket. He said the programme would expand further next year, engaging even larger numbers purely on merit.
Rana Mashhood also announced that Pakistan’s first National Youth Games would be held at the start of next year, while preparations were under way to groom young athletes for the Youth Olympics and the 2028 Olympic Games. He said the aim was to provide transparent, merit-based opportunities so that Pakistan could produce not just one Arshad Nadeem, but dozens of athletes capable of raising the national flag on the world stage.