A special lecture titled “Pakistan 2030: Challenges, Opportunities, and New Pathways” was organized at the University of Lahore under the auspices of the Association of Private Sector Universities of Pakistan (APSUP). Chairman Punjab Group, Mian Aamir Mehmood, attended as the chief guest. The event was also attended by APSUP Chairman Chaudhry Abdul Rehman, Chairman Board of Governors University of Lahore Awais Raoof, Executive Director Punjab Group Sohail Afzal, Rector University of Lahore Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ashraf, Dean Office of Students’ Affairs Amarah Awais, along with faculty members and a large number of students.
As chief guest, Mian Aamir Mehmood, in his address, said that Pakistan needs 33 new provinces, without which the country cannot achieve real progress. According to him, the solution to public problems lies only in strong and empowered local governments and the formation of smaller provinces.
He further said that local government has never been taken seriously in Pakistan, even though it is the only platform that can truly solve citizens’ problems. Unfortunately, federal and provincial governments keep power concentrated in their own hands.
On the subject of education, he emphasized that investment in education is inevitable. Currently, 25 million children are out of school, and only 38% of the population has access to clean drinking water. If proper attention is not given to education and skill development, these children will become a burden on the economy in the coming decades.
He also remarked that leadership opportunities are limited in Pakistan because large provinces restrict political power to a handful of families and elites. By creating smaller provinces, middle-class youth would have the chance to participate in politics and leadership.
He further observed that to become Prime Minister in Pakistan, one either needs a strong family background or the backing of the establishment. By contrast, in India even a tea seller could become Prime Minister. Sadly, that is not the case in Pakistan.