Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal has claimed that the China-Pakistan Economic and the Pakistan-United States Knowledge corridors "will prove game changers for the country".
His comment came in a speech during a first-ever launching ceremony of the Young Development Corps at the Punjab University's on Friday.
He said, "The past governments used to buy tanks and aircrafts from the United States but no government purchased an academic weapon as its real weapon is its universities. During the recent visit by the premier to the US, it was decided that around 10,000 Pakistani PhDs would be trained in universities there in the next decade under the Pakistan-US Knowledge Corridor and it will prove a revolutionary initiative for the country's development. Unfortunately, positive academic achievements are not being highlighted by the media. The government has increased the Higher Education Commission's budget from Rs 48 billion to Rs 78 billion and it now wants to increase the amount to Rs 100 billion."
He also urged the youth and the media to promote a positive thinking in society, saying, "The basic reason behind discontinuation in policies is that there is no public input in formation of these policies and that's why the public does not defend them."
He claimed that his government was taking input from the public in development projects and through the Young Development Corps young students had been made stakeholders in the development plans of the country.
He said the government was trying to achieve goals of Vision 2025 and Pakistan would be included among the top 25 economies of the world by 2025. "The Pakistani flag is being hoisted in every nook and corner of Balochistan. Isn't it a change?" he questioned.
Punjab University Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran said, "Ahsan Iqbal's address has reflected that he is not a political minister but a minister who has dreams and destinations in his eyes and wants to make the youth part of them."
Young Development Corps President Huzaifa Anwar said students thanked the federal government for making them part of development projects and had been provided with a healthy platform to play their role to achieve the goals of Vision 2025.
Vice Chancellor Kamran earlier administered oath to the newly selected office-bearers of the Young Development Corps.
The ceremony also saw the presence of Advisor to Vice Chancellor Ikram Ullah Khan, Registrar Professor Dr Liaqat Ali, newly selected Young Development Corps President Huzaifa Anwar, Vice President Imbisat Fizza, General Secretary Umer Daraz, Joint Secretary Anoop Hafeez, Media Relations Officer Arooj Aurangzaib, the faculty and students.