S Punjab students see disparity in development

LAHORE
OVER 200 male and female students from Southern Punjab came to Lahore on a three-day peace-trip and met with Punjab Education and Youth Minister Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan on Tuesday.
The peace-trip, which also provided exposure opportunities to students, comprised of students mainly from districts of Multan, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran and Bahawalpur’s public and private colleges and universities. An NGO, in collaboration with the Punjab government’s youth and education departments, and another NGO organised the peace trip. Most of the participants visited Lahore for the first time, Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director of the NGO, said.
Rana Mashhood, while addressing students, said the Punjab government had a clear understanding and action plan for the peace building and said that the youth could not be ignored in that plan. He said the youth from across the Punjab should play a vital role in the peace building efforts.
The students, who were in the city from February 14-16, 2015, met Punjab Youth Minister Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, participated in a dialogue at Government College University Lahore; attended the closing ceremony of the Punjab Youth Festival and visited historical monuments including Shalimar Bagh, Badshahi Mosque, and Minar-e-Pakistan.
Minister Mashood Khan also gave a dinner in honour of students. The students also watched Wagah Border’s flag’s lowering ceremony and organised a cultural night at Punjab Institute of Languages and Culture complex. At Government College University Lahore, a dialogue was organised between the students of GCU and visiting students from Southern Punjab. The title of the discussion was “Counter Violent Extremism through Exchange Programme”.
Most of the students talked about the development gap between the upper Punjab and Southern districts.