ISLAMABAD: On Friday, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Patricia Scotland awarded the prestigious “Commonwealth Youth Champion” accolade to Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP), in recognition of his steadfast dedication to empowering young people. The award was conferred during the inauguration of the PMYP’s new initiatives at the Prime Minister’s office.
In her address, Rt Patricia Scotland lauded Rana Mashhood for his exemplary efforts in creating opportunities and providing support to the youth through various programs. She commended his leadership and highlighted the significance of youth in driving societal change. Scotland expressed her appreciation by following Commonwealth tradition and calling out three cheers of “Hip; Hip; Yeh; Yeh” in honor of Khan’s achievements.
During the ceremony, Scotland officially launched six new PMYP initiatives. These included the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance, a Digital Learning Portal, a new logo for the National Volunteer Corps, an AI education program developed in partnership with the British Council and Intel Corporation, and the establishment of the Commonwealth Youth Parliamentary Forum.
Rana Mashhood, in his speech, acknowledged the deep commitment of Rt Patricia Scotland to Pakistan and her role in strengthening Commonwealth relations. He underscored the mutual interests shared by Pakistan and the Commonwealth in advancing youth development. Mashhood emphasized the potential of Pakistani youth and the impact of PMYP’s initiatives in fostering their growth.
The event also featured a presentation of awards. Rt Patricia Scotland awarded a prize of Rs 100,000 to Miss Aqsa from Baluchistan, the winner of the National Volunteer Corps Logo design competition. Additionally, Prime Minister motivational awards were presented to students from various educational institutions for their exceptional performance in diverse fields.
Chairman Rana Mashhood presented souvenirs to Rt Patricia Scotland, acknowledging her contributions to the Commonwealth and to Pakistan.