LAHORE, Sep 29 (APP):Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said on Monday the government was opening new avenues of employment for youth both at home and abroad, with countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Turkiye, and Belarus offering opportunities for Pakistani workers.

Unveiling the salient features of the National Youth Employment Policy (NYEP) at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, here on Monday, he announced a comprehensive package of measures, including overseas employment opportunities for up to 1.8 million Pakistani youth, establishment of employment exchanges in every district, registration of new businesses, and the launch of green jobs to productively engage young people. “The doors of opportunities have opened internationally, and we are preparing our youth to fully benefit from them,” he remarked.
Rana Mashhood said that despite the enormous challenges posed by recent floods, Pakistan had gained recognition at the international level, creating new prospects for collaboration in education, skills, and employment. He underlined that the policy, initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the PDM government, had now been further strengthened to ensure continuity and greater impact.
Highlighting the scope of the policy, he said it was designed for all segments of youth, whether enrolled in schools, colleges and universities, or those who are currently out of the education system. “Every young Pakistani must be given the chance to shape a dignified life,” he said, adding that women would be an integral part of employment programmes up to 2029.
He informed that a dedicated committee on technical education and IT, headed by the Prime Minister, meets every two months to review progress and expand initiatives to reduce unemployment. He said that along with providing overseas job opportunities, the policy would equip young people with essential language and professional skills.
Rana Mashhood announced that ten new businesses would be registered to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. He added that youth involved in negative activities would also be rehabilitated and provided constructive opportunities under initiatives like green jobs. He said that employment exchanges were being established in every district to facilitate job seekers not only through online platforms but also through doorstep services.
The Chairman said that the National Youth Employment Policy is a landmark step to address unemployment, empower the young generation, and transform them into a driving force for Pakistan’s progress.

News Desk

LONDON: The controversy surrounding the supposed inclusion of columnist and social media activist Shama Junejo in Pakistan’s delegation to the United Nations this week took a new turn on Sunday when she claimed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had included her among the delegates as an adviser.

The controversy had surfaced when photos from Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s address at a UN Security Council session on artificial intelligence (AI) spread like wildfire on social media platform X, with users pointing to Junejo sitting in the background. Several of them also shared screenshots from her Twitter (now X) timeline from several years ago, expressing support for Israel — a position sharply at odds with Pakistan’s longstanding pro-Palestinian stance.

After social media furore, Asif said on X that only the Foreign Office could explain Junejo’s presence at the session. Later, the FO clarified that she had not been part of Pakistan’s accredited delegation.

Following that, Asif also spoke about the matter on Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’. Asked whether he was “taken aback” by the FO’s statement, Asif emphatically said: “I was taken aback, rather I was a bit disturbed that such people could be with the delegation whom no one owns later.” He also denied Junejo having written PM Shehbaz’s speech for the 80th UN General Assembly session, further stating that as far as he knew, she did not have any official position, be it of an adviser or a special assistant.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 28 /DNA/ – The People’s Republic of China has once again reaffirmed its role as Pakistan’s steadfast friend by extending Monsoon Relief Assistance for the flood-affected people in Pakistan through NDMA. It will augment the NDMA’s relief support for flood affected areas in Punjab. Two Chinese relief flights carrying 300 tents and 9,000 blankets landed today at Nur Khan Air Base, Rawalpindi, to support families displaced by the recent floods. This gesture underscores China’s enduring solidarity with Pakistan in times of difficulty.

The reception ceremony was attended by Federal Minister Engr. Amir Muqam as Chief Guest, along with Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Inam Haider Malik, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Jiang Zaidong and representatives of MOFA and NDMA.

Speaking on the occasion, the Federal Minister expressed deep gratitude to the Government and people of China for their prompt support, noting that the assistance will bring much needed relief to thousands of flood affected families. He emphasized that Pakistan, under the leadership of the Prime Minister and with NDMA at the forefront, is mobilizing all available resources to ensure swift relief and recovery efforts in the flood hit areas.

He added that China’s contribution is not only a humanitarian endeavor but also a reaffirmation of the everlasting Pakistan China friendship a bond described as higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the ocean, and stronger than steel.

The Minister reaffirmed the Government of Pakistan’s resolve, in coordination with NDMA and with the support of friendly countries like China, to overcome the challenges posed by the floods and ensure the rehabilitation of the affected population.

Qazi Shoaib Khan 

ATTOCK 28th sep,A well-attended meeting regarding the Attock Press Club building was held at a local hotel, in which journalists associated with national newspapers and news channels participated actively. Addressing the meeting, former General Secretary of Attock Press Club (Registered), Hafiz Shehzad Akhtar, said that the Press Club Restoration Committee, formed in the previous meeting by journalists, has been fulfilling its responsibilities effectively and has been in continuous contact with the administration.

He said that Deputy Commissioner Attock Rao Atif Raza, ADCG Aneel Saeed, Deputy Director Information Shehzad Niaz Khokhar, and AC Anza Abbasi have shown a highly positive approach and made serious efforts to resolve the longstanding issues of journalists, for which all journalists are grateful to them.

The participants said that a Press Club is the identity, dignity, and home of journalists, and its absence is not only a matter of concern for journalists but also a source of embarrassment for the administration. The journalists attending the meeting appreciated the efforts of the Attock administration and the performance of the Restoration Committee and suggested that the committee should continue to work with the administration in the future as well.

Hafiz Shehzad Akhtar said that it is hoped that a decision regarding the building will be announced in the next few days. He added that while differences do exist among journalists, they are only of a principled nature, whereas on the issues of the restoration of the building and transparent elections, all are united. With the decision about the building, an Election Committee will also be formed.

All journalists unanimously demanded that this time, the Press Club elections should be conducted under the supervision of the administration to ensure a transparent and fair process. The participants further said that the upcoming elections will be held strictly in accordance with the constitution and rules of the Press Club. Since the Press Club building has not been with journalists for the past thirteen years and the constitutional framework of the institution has also remained inactive, it is essential that elections be held under the supervision of the administration and that the building be handed over to the newly elected body.

KARACHI, SEPT 28 /DNA/ – Pakistan Navy launched the Mangrove Plantation Campaign 2025 at Bin Qasim, Gharo. Commander Coast, Rear Admiral Faisal Amin, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and planted a sapling.

The campaign has been launched in collaboration with the Forest Departments of Sindh and Balochistan and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

While addressing the ceremony, the chief guest underscored the critical role of mangroves in combating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and protecting coastal communities from erosion and natural disasters. He appreciated the collaboration of the Forest Departments of Sindh and Balochistan, as well as IUCN, with Pakistan Navy, and highlighted that the campaign aims to promote environmental awareness and strengthen coastal resilience.

The mangrove plantation campaign is part of Pakistan Navy’s environmental protection programme, under which the Navy has planted 8.7 million mangroves from Shah Bandar to Jiwani. These plantation drives have also created employment opportunities for the local populace.

Marine conservation and sustainable development are integral to Pakistan Navy’s environmental initiatives, and this campaign stands as a testament to the Navy’s unwavering commitment to preserving the country’s coastal environment for future generations.

ISLAMABAD, SEPT 28 /DNA/ – The rising influence of Hindutva ideology and its expanding transnational networks are fueling diaspora-driven politics and a dangerous escalation in Islamophobia worldwide. This trend poses serious challenges to global peace, coexistence, and pluralism, highlighting the urgent need for academic, diplomatic, and policy-driven engagements to counter its divisive narratives.

This was deliberated at a seminar, “Hindutva: Networks, Diaspora Politics, and Islamophobia,” convened by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad, which gathered scholars, policymakers, diplomats, and other stakeholders to explore one of today’s most pressing global ideological challenges. The seminar featured insightful discussions by Dr Mujeeb Afzal, associate professor Quaid-i-Azam University, Dr Khurram Iqbal, academic and policy analyst, Ambassador (r) Sohail Mahmood, director general Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, and Khalid Rahman, chairman IPS.

In his opening remarks, Khalid Rahman noted that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which propagates and institutionalizes the ideology of Hindutva, marked its centenary on September 27. He highlighted the steady surge in mobilization of Hindutva organizations under the guise of cultural organizations, such as the RSS, not only within India but also across Indian diasporas, to advance the politics of hate.

He underlined the factors through which Hindutva reinforced itself within India, including organizational discipline, a robust grassroots network, political influence through the BJP, expansion in affiliate organizations, community service, shaping educational and cultural discourse, and, most of all, a favorable Islamophobic global environment. He emphasized that Hindutva weaponizes Islamophobia as a strategy in the West to further its own anti-Muslim agenda.

Dr Mujeeb Afzal unpacked the structural and political dimensions of Hindutva, asserting that it was more of a political phenomenon than a religious one. He examined its operational strategies within India and its outreach into global diasporas. He also underlined Hindutva’s construction of identity in opposition to Muslims and its global strategies and ideological links to promote Islamophobia.

Dr Khurram Iqbal expanded on the security and societal consequences of these developments, noting how Hindutva-driven narratives contribute to Islamophobic sentiments and discriminatory policies. He said that the Hindutva diaspora in the Global North funds Hindutva-led activities inside India and the dissemination of this divisive ideology globally.

He emphasized that the Hindutva diaspora in the West acts as a lobby group for the BJP and RSS. However, he noted that Hindutva may struggle to gain ground in Western societies, where racial identity often proves stronger than religious affiliation, and India’s assumed role as a ‘vishwaguru’ did not sit well with the host societies. He also drew parallels between the ideas of Akhand Bharat and Greater Israel, describing the recent Pakistan-Saudi defense pact as evidence of growing awareness of their potential dangers.

In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Sohail Mahmood warned of the dangers posed by Hindutva and its transnational networks for Muslim, especially Pakistani, diaspora communities. He stressed the need for sustained dialogue and global solidarity to counter Hindutva and Islamophobia, while noting that many Hindus themselves reject these extremist ideologies.

Emphasizing that pluralism, inclusivity, and justice are essential for peace and stability, he cautioned that Hindutva groups actively fuel Islamophobia, pointing to the current BJP/RSS support for Israeli genocide in Gaza as a dangerous convergence. He further observed that beyond India, Hindutva networks tie their agenda to global security narratives, portraying Pakistan as the alleged epicenter of terrorism.

The seminar drew attention not only to the ideological rise of Hindutva but also to its implications for the world, especially Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and the Muslim diaspora. The discussions consistently pointed toward the necessity for policy circles both within Pakistan and internationally to take cognizance of Hindutva’s expanding transnational dimensions. Treating Islamophobia as not merely a societal prejudice while framing Hindutva as a violent extremist ideology must be done in a way that the West understands, the discussants highlighted.