Islamabad: The Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives has extended the deadline for submission of entries for the Development Leadership Award (DLA) till March 16.
The decision was taken to provide maximum opportunities to the candidates. Earlier, the last deadline was February 25. However, it has been extended to March 16. The initiative was taken by the planning ministry to mark the celebrations of 75 years of independence.
The key objective of these awards is to honor Pakistani citizens and overseas Pakistanis who have contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of Pakistan. The DLA will be given to outstanding individuals in recognition of high achievers, emerging leaders, and overseas Pakistanis in specific fields, which include teachers, researchers, public policy experts; business owners; investors; start-ups ‘social enterprises, philanthropists; social activists; journalists, and others.
Award categories
Under the awards, three main categories were established: high achiever (over 35), emerging leader (under 35), and recognizing accomplished overseas Pakistanis. A high-powered ‘DLA Evaluation Board’ – comprised of intellectuals, practitioners, professionals, and policymakers – will evaluate the submissions and forward recommendations to the Prime Minister’s Office.
It is to be noted that since the government came into power in April last year, several initiatives have been taken for the country’s development, particularly for the youth. DLA’s purpose is to recognize the contribution of people in respective fields.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, in his message, reiterated that the government is committed to taking such initiatives by recognizing the services of citizens in different fields. The minister said citizens who contributed to the country’s development must be rewarded while urging them to register for these awards.
