Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the Pakistan Armed Forces delivered a “strong slap” to India during a four-day war, adding that Pakistan will soon achieve victory in the economic arena as well.
Addressing the foundation-laying ceremony of a Daanish School in Hari Ghel Bagh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the prime minister said that a war took place with India in May, during which Pakistan’s forces delivered a powerful blow within four days.
Shehbaz Sharif said the US President acknowledged that Pakistan had shot down seven brand-new Indian aircraft, while a US Congress report also validated Pakistan’s success in the conflict. He added that American officials have repeatedly mentioned India’s aircraft losses.
The prime minister said Allah had honoured Pakistan with dignity, crediting the bravery of Pakistani soldiers, the excellent performance of the Air Force, and the Army’s launch of Al-Fatah missiles deep inside Indian territory. “In just four days, India’s forces fell to their knees,” he claimed.
He further praised the “remarkable leadership” of the Field Marshal, stating that he took fearless decisions after consultation. He added that Pakistan was working tirelessly in the economic sector and would soon secure success there as well.
Speaking about the Daanish School initiative, Shehbaz Sharif expressed happiness over laying the foundation stone in Bagh. He said the project started in Punjab and is now expanding across Pakistan.
He directed the education department to ensure that the Bagh Daanish School is inaugurated on 23 March 2026, adding that another Daanish School would also be started in Neelum Valley. He said these institutions can compete with any top educational institution, featuring digital libraries, smart boards, and quality sports grounds.
He stated that development pathways had once been blocked, but Daanish Schools had reopened them, emphasising that no admissions or hiring take place without merit and that students receive free education purely on merit.
Shehbaz Sharif said the decisions made between the AJK committee and Pakistan’s delegation would be fully implemented. He urged newly elected AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore to establish a governance model whose impact is felt across the region.
He said Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir also desires freedom and vowed that Pakistan would continue raising its voice at diplomatic forums until Kashmiris receive their rights.
On the occasion, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore said the Pakistan Army protects the nation’s borders and that the day will come when Kashmiris attain their right to self-determination.
He expressed confidence that commitments made under the leadership of PM Shehbaz Sharif would be fulfilled, adding that the prime minister had visited Kashmir bearing the gift of a Daanish School. He recalled that Shehbaz Sharif was known in Punjab for “Shehbaz Speed.”
Separately, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday marked World Children’s Day by reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthen child protection measures and expand access to education across the country.
This year’s World Children’s Day is being observed under the theme “My Day, My Rights,” highlighting the fulfillment of children’s rights and development needs. The annual commemoration marks the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989, underscoring global responsibility toward child welfare.
“The future of any state, country and humanity as a whole is linked to the bright future of its children as the new generation,” the PM Office quoted Sharif as saying. “Therefore, international cooperation among countries for the welfare and prosperity of children is essential.”
Sharif said children’s rights to mental and physical development, protection, education, and upbringing were of “critical importance,” adding that the government was taking all possible measures to provide educational facilities for children nationwide, though more “effective strategies” were still required to meet the scale of the challenge.
He added that a peaceful future depended on providing children with quality education and training aligned with modern needs and advanced technology.
“Educational stipends, health care facilities and skills-development centers are essential components of the basic needs of children in any society,” the PM Office quoted Sharif as saying.
Sharif said Pakistan was working with provincial governments and international organizations to provide children with better opportunities.
The government last year declared an education emergency to ensure the enrollment of out-of-school children. According to Pakistan Education Statistics 2023-24 released by the education ministry, over 25 million children in the country remain out of school. The impoverished Balochistan province in the southwest is the worst affected at 58 percent, compared to 47 percent in Sindh.