Australia to offer new scholarships for Pakistani students

Islamabad : Australian High Commissioner Neil Hawkins announced plans to introduce new scholarships for Pakistani students, saying his country is committed to promoting education and skills development in Pakistan.

During a meeting with chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan here on Wednesday, the envoy praised the talent and potential of Pakistani youth. “The youth of Pakistan are an asset to the nation.”

Mr Hawkins expressed a desire to strengthen bilateral cooperation in sports, especially hockey, underscoring the significance of collaborating with the Prime Minister's Youth Programme to carry out strategic initiatives in the field. During the meeting, attended by the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme sports focal person Khawaja Junaid and international relations focal person Syeda Aamna Batool, participants discussed initiatives to empower Pakistani youth. They also explored potential cultural exchange programmes between Australia and Pakistan in sports and education.

Mr Ahmed emphasised his longstanding commitment to youth affairs since 2002 and highlighted the PML-N's achievements in introducing a comprehensive youth policy. He detailed the success of the Prime Minister's Youth Loan Scheme, which, he said, had distributed approximately Rs186 billion to young entrepreneurs for economic development. The chairman of the PM Youth Programme proposed initiatives for mutual training in sports to enhance skills and foster partnerships.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed emphasised in a statement that the talk of development in Pakistan was commonplace, as the economy was moving toward a new trajectory for recovery. He said that there was a growing demand for Pakistan's leading products in global markets, with exports witnessing notable growth.

The chairman of the PM Youth Programme added that foreign investment and enhanced trade had bolstered the country’s economic stability. He said that the progress demonstrated how under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, Pakistan was gaining global recognition as a stable and emerging economy.