National security must continue to be the top priority, according to Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, who emphasised that political stability and sustainable development are only feasible in a secure nation.

Speaking at a youth convention here on Sunday, the speaker of the Punjab Assembly said that the young people have shown that they are still in the forefront of the nation’s future with their sizable gatherings. According to him, young people’s desires for employment and change must be met with tangible options.

According to Malik Muhammad Ahmed Khan, local youngsters have voiced significant concerns regarding employment and jobs following the development of a university in the vicinity. He argued that while elected officials must continue to be responsible for the use of public monies, creating jobs, governing, constructing roads, and establishing colleges are all issues that affect the people.

Pakistan’s greatest problem, according to him, is education. The nation needs to make improvements to its educational system and make sure that no child stays out of school.

He stated that almost 25 million kids are not in school right now and urged everyone to work together to improve healthcare and education.

The Punjab government is investing heavily in the health sector, he continued.

Speaking about national security, the speaker stated that young people support the Pakistan Army and that the nation is still fighting terrorism. He honoured military personnel who have given their lives while performing their duties, stating that their sacrifices contribute to the nation’s increased security.

He claimed that hostile forces are attacking innocent civilians and trying to weaken Pakistan, adding that the nation has several difficulties.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the newly constructed and rehabilitated schools across the province will not be just structures but centres of education, literacy and social development and efforts would be made to ensure that no child is deprived of education.

He said this while chairing a meeting on educational projects at the Chief Minister’s House here on Sunday during which officials assessed progress on school construction, renovation and enrolment initiatives across Sindh.

At the conference it was determined to open freshly built and reconstructed schools and to begin a campaign for the admission of children to these institutions.

They said 838 schools were being created, upgraded or restored across Sindh with the backing of the Asian Development Bank.

Murad Ali Shah asked the administrators to make district-level admission plans before the completion of the schools.

He also directed the involvement of local representatives, community leaders and parents in the enrolment drive to encourage increased participation.

Officials said the new schools will bring educational chances to about 250,000 students. Another aim has been fixed to enrolll more than 221,000 children in schools in flood affected districts.

The meeting was further informed that out of the 116 new secondary schools, 64 will be completed by December 2026 while the remaining 52 will be completed by June 2027. Further, 722 schools are under construction under the flood rehabilitation initiative.

The chief minister ordered that all the completed schools be made functioning from the first academic year. He also urged for measurable benchmarks encompassing enrolment, attendance, student retention and educational outcomes to guarantee that the new facilities lead to better access to education and better learning outcomes.

The security forces killed eight militants during an operation in Hangu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa while six troops were slain in the exchange of fire, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

An exchange of fire took occurred between a convoy of security forces and militants in Hangu, stated ISPR in a statement.

Security officers had an excellent response killing eight militants associated with ‘Fitna al-Khawarij’ and working with Indian help, it added.

ISPR said two officers and four soldiers leading their troops from front were martyred amid fierce battle.

The military named the officers as 23-year-old Captain Abu Zar Farooq, from of Gujranwala district, and 22-year-old Lieutenant Shiraz Babar, native of Chakwal district.

ISPR said both commanders and four troops fought gallantly and laid down their lives in the defence of the motherland.

A clearance operation is underway in the area to eradicate any additional militants who may still be present, ISPR stated.

The military said security forces and law-enforcement agencies will continue counterterrorism operations under the government’s “Azm-e-Istehkam” campaign to remove what it called externally funded terrorism.

The sacrifices of the officers and soldiers had increased the will of the country to preserve its land and people, ISPR stated.