TOPI: Sitara Ayaz, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Development has said that rate of unemployment and illiteracy was very high in the province as compared to other provinces of the country besides other crises like load-shedding, food shortage and bleak law and order situation.
She was addressing a concluding ceremony of All Pakistan Women's Engineering Symposium 2009 'Youth Leadership Symposium' as a chief guest, organised by Women's Engineering Society, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology here on Sunday.
Addressing on the occasion, Sitara said that after independence, Pakistan could not make real progress even after a lapse of six decades, adding that if they wanted real progress they have to utilise all available resources.
Commenting on manpower in the province, she said that about 21.3 per cent of our population fell between the age of 20 and 24 years and Pakistan's youth was close to 55 millions, indicating that a significant portion of our population consists of youngsters, she said.
The minister said that Pakistani youths have the potential to shape their own destiny, adding that they should play their constructive role in the transformation and development of the country.
About gender bias and discrimination, she said that this was a silent enemy within the society which must be eliminated because in today's world they could not survive without equality among all sections, irrespective of their cast, creed, social status and gender.
Prof. Dr. Fazal Ahmad Khalid (Pro-Rector-Academic) said that the symposium provided an opportunity to the participants to share their personal experiences of leadership, human right awareness and social responsibility.
Maria Raiz, coordinator of the society said that the event was a journey in self-realisation for many and an attempt to dig-out their hidden leadership potentials.
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