Pakistani sisters win historic gold medals in powerlifting championship
Three Pakistani sisters, Sybil, Veronica, and Twinkle Sohail, have made history by winning a total of twelve gold medals at the Asian Pacific African Combined Powerlifting Championship in South Africa in July. Sybil and Veronica each secured four gold medals in the 52 and 57-kilogram categories, respectively, while Twinkle, competing in the 84-kilogram class despite not being fully fit, also achieved a clean sweep with four gold medals.
Their achievements were celebrated by officials, including the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, who praised their dedication and called them the “pride of the nation.” After winning gold, in a video message Sybil and Veronica thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan for their encouragement and support. This landmark accomplishment highlights the growing support for female athletes in Pakistan, despite the societal challenges and limited access to facilities they often face.
Inauguration of Prime Minister’s Youth Development Centre at Lahore College for Women University
Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan officially inaugurated the Prime Minister’s Youth Development Centre (PMYDC) at Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on 8 June 2024. The ceremony was graced by distinguished guests, faculty members, and enthusiastic students.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan highlighted the vital role of the PMYDC in the broader Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. The PMYDC will provide career counselling, internship opportunities, skill building, digital literacy, and AI training. In addition, the centre will engage students in raising awareness about SDGs and climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives. The centre will also offer domestic and international educational exchange opportunities and create a robust alumni network for continuous support, mentorship, and professional networking.
Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan encouraged all students to take advantage of the services and opportunities offered by the PMYDC.
PMYP partners with FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited
Chairman of Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan signed a letter of intent with the FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL) to empower youth in the dairy sector. The collaboration leverages the flagship programmes of both organisations to create impactful opportunities for eligible farmers.
Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said, “We believe that the holistic development of youth should be achieved through collaborative and cross-sectional approaches. Projects like this demonstrate that together we can achieve great things.”
The two organisations will collaborate in providing value chain financing enabling dairy and livestock farmers to secure loans for purchasing exotic cows, mechanisation, solar solutions, and farm infrastructure, training and capacity building, and engagement and inclusion of dairy and livestock farmers to integrate them into the broader economic framework.
