Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the University of Rasul and Rasul Medical College during her visit to Mandi Bahauddin on Tuesday.
The chief minister also visited the university’s multipurpose hall, cut a cake with female students, took selfies with them and warmly embraced them. Students welcomed her enthusiastically upon her arrival at the venue.
A student presented a portrait and a book to the chief minister, while female students sang “Tariyan Ton Vi Sohni” in her honour. Students also joined the chief minister in singing the national anthem and presented patriotic songs, including “Agar Poochay Koi, Hamara Shajra Pakistan”, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere at the ceremony.
The chief minister distributed laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques among students. Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed the participants on the Honhaar Scholarship and CM Laptop schemes.
In Mandi Bahauddin, 50 students of public universities and 38 students of private and federal universities received Honhaar Scholarships. Scholarships were also awarded to 15 medical college students and 368 students of colleges in the district under the CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship Programme.
Under the CM Laptop Scheme, 5,531 students from Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat received laptops.
Addressing a laptop and Honhaar Scholarship distribution ceremony at the University of Rasul, she congratulated students who received laptops and scholarships and paid tribute to their parents for their sacrifices in supporting their children’s education. At her request, participants stood to acknowledge the contribution of parents, whom she said often set aside their own aspirations to meet their children’s needs.
The chief minister said the Punjab government was committed to ensuring equal opportunities for students and that merit, rather than political influence or personal recommendations, would determine access to government schemes. “Every child is a living, breathing Pakistan. The government and the state stand with you,” she said, urging young people to remain loyal to their country and never allow the national flag to be lowered. The chief minister said the government had invested billions of rupees in the University of Rasul, where new departments of social sciences, life sciences and business management had been established to enable students to pursue higher education closer to home.
