Lahore:Punjab Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique has said the provincial government is striving to eradicate extremism and establish a peaceful society through practical measures and youth engagement.
He was chairing the fifth meeting of the Board of Governors of the Centre of Excellence for Countering Extremism at the Punjab Home Department on Saturday.
The meeting approved the establishment of a fund for the Centre of Excellence with Rs500 million allocated as seed money. It also ratified the decisions of the fourth Board of Governors meeting, while the relevant authorities presented a progress report on their implementation.
The board reviewed the Punjab Youth Innovation and Incubation Competition 2026, in which 51 universities from across the province presented 154 innovative projects. Following a transparent technical evaluation, a committee of experts shortlisted 50 projects, whose participants were given an opportunity to present their work.
Female students from the University of Management and Technology (UMT) secured first position with a project aimed at reducing the cost and improving the quality of DNA testing. Students from Fatima Jinnah Medical University clinched second position with a project focused on reducing the costs of cancer diagnosis and treatment, while a student from Superior University secured third position with an artificial intelligence-based model to control objectionable content on children’s mobile devices.
The winners will receive cash prizes of Rs1 million, Rs750,000 and Rs500,000 for first, second and third positions, respectively.
The board directed the Information and Culture Department to organise awareness programmes to promote peace among young people. It also instructed the Higher Education Department to hold speech, theatre, essay-writing and poster competitions to encourage tolerance and counter extremist tendencies.
Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Centre of Excellence was actively working for the welfare of society and that the provincial government, under the leadership of the chief minister, was committed to implementing the National Action Plan. He said the competition would build confidence among young people and encourage them to launch new entrepreneurial ventures.
Home Secretary Dr Ahmed Javed Qazi said young people and civil society played a pivotal role in promoting peace, tolerance and forbearance. He added that the students securing top positions would be linked with the Forensic Science Authority, Health Department and Punjab Information Technology Board to help translate their ideas into practical initiatives.
He expressed confidence that talented young people would contribute to building a peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Law Secretary Asif Bilal Lodhi, Auqaf Secretary Dr Ehsan Bhutta, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, Chief Coordination Officer Ghulam Saghir Shahid, Executive Director of the Punjab Institute of Mental Health Professor Ayesha Rasheed, DIG CTD, Additional Secretary (Judicial) Abdul Rauf, additional secretaries of Higher Education and Information, Deputy Secretary (Finance), consultants Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari and Sohail Raza, and other relevant officials. Professor Dr Ali Madeeh Hashmi of the Department of Psychiatry at King Edward Medical University participated via video link.