Punjab University steals the show as Youth Carnival concludes

PESHAWAR: The University of Punjab on Tuesday won for the second consecutive time the overall title of the National Youth Carnival (NYC) Mega Challenge-2017 held at the Peshawar Sports Complex. The University of Punjab won 11 gold and four silver medals followed by the Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad with one gold and four silver medals in the carnival.

Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, COMSATS Abbottabad and Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan won two gold and two silver medals each and came third in the event. With two gold medals, the Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan (AWKUM) bagged the fourth position in the mega event. The Government Girls Degree College (GGDC) in Shabqadar, Charsadda, presented extra ordinary performance and won all the medals in traditional dances.

Danial Habib of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, won quiz, Rizwanullah of Gomal University Bait Bazi, Saad Iftikhar of the GPGC Mansehra Spell Bee, Taimour of Islamia College University Console Gaming, the GGDC Shabqadar traditional dance, Shafaq Tanveer, Raja Suhail and Hajra Zia of the KMC, Peshawar, won English declamation and English Essay writing, the GGDC Hayatabad No.2 Business Idea, Shoaib Mugheera of University of Punjab Urdu essay writing, Hafiz Asad Sharif Qiraat, Ali Baz Naat, Muslim Shaghan Pashto language singing, Ghufran Chishti Urdu singing, Moiz Alvi Pashto Essay, Nauman calligraphy and music band.

Muhammad Haris of Qurtaba University chess, Mohibullah of Hazara University Pashto essay writing, Muhammad Haris of Qurtaba University, Hala Riaz, a private candidate painting, Asim Ali of AWKUM won the thematic arts, Warda Wafa and Farhan Zeb of Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan Urdu declamation, COMSATS Abbottabad won Drama and Zeeshan of the same institution won Hindko language singing, Malik Ehsan standup comedy, Asim Zubair and Noor Ul Murtaza short-filming, Salman Malik of Kohat University of Science and Technology Extra Ordinary Talent, Ayesha Ejab of SBBWU Sell-It and M. Waleed of IM Sciences, Peshawar, won the English singing title.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak was the chief guest and gave away trophies and other cash awards to the winners. The runners-up of each category were given Rs40,000 and winners Rs60,000 prizes each.

The chief minister said that the youth played an important role in the Pakistan Tehreek-Insaf (PTI) win in previous general election and his government was committed to working for their welfare.

He said that his government established the Directorate of Youth Affairs and sanctioned Rs1 billion for arranging various productive activities for the youth. Pervez Khattak said the government constructed 100 playgrounds for youth across the province while allocated Rs250 million for youth development programme.

He announced doubling the allocation for the Youth Development Initiative. He said the youth constituted 60 percent of the country's population and the provincial government was using all means for their welfare.

The chief minister said the government had given the Technical Centres to Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to impart skills to them to fend for themselves. He also lauded the Liaison Corporation and Directorate of Youth Affairs for their services for youth and involving the youth in healthy and productive activities.

The chief minister said the multi-billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would help revive the industrial sector and produce job opportunities. He said with CPEC the province would become the industrial hub as new industrial unites would be set up under the project.

The chief minister said that PTI inherited a province where corruption in state institutions was rampant, merit was violated and departments were politicised. He said the PTI revamped the decades old faulty system, introduced reforms, improved governance, depoliticised state entities and restored public confidence in the state departments. Earlier, the chief minister formally inaugurated the newly construct Jawan Markaz which would organise curricular and co-curricular activities under the Youth Development initiative.