Khawaja Salman Rafique chairs fifth meeting of Centre of Excellence Against Extremism

LAHORE  –  The Punjab government has approved Rs500 million as seed money for the Centre of Excellence Against Extremism to strengthen its efforts against extremism and promote peace, tolerance and social harmony, while encouraging innovative ideas among the youth. The decision was taken at the fifth meeting of the Centre’s Board of Governors, chaired by Provincial Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique at the Punjab Home Department here on Saturday. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of decisions taken at the Board’s fourth meeting and endorsed the previous decisions. Officials presented a report on the Punjab Youth Innovation and Incubation Competition 2026, organised by the centre to encourage creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial initiatives among young people. The meeting was informed that 51 universities from across Punjab had presented 154 innovative projects in the competition. A technical evaluation committee comprising experts shortlisted 50 projects after a transparent assessment, providing young participants an opportunity to present their ideas. Students securing the first, second and third positions presented their projects before the Board. Female students from the University of Management and Technology (UMT) secured first position with a project aimed at reducing the cost and improving the quality of DNA testing. Students from Fatima Jinnah Medical University won second position for their project to reduce the cost of cancer diagnosis and treatment, while a student from Superior University secured third position with an artificial intelligence (AI) model designed to control children’s exposure to objectionable content on mobile phones. The winning students will receive cash prizes of Rs1 million, Rs750,000 and Rs500,000 for first, second and third positions, respectively. Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said the students securing top positions would be linked with the Punjab Forensic Science Authority, the Health Department and the Punjab Information Technology Board to help them further develop their projects and translate their ideas into practical applications.

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The board also directed the Information and Culture Department to organise awareness programmes to promote the message of peace among young people. It further instructed the Higher Education Department to arrange speech, theatre, essay-writing and poster competitions to encourage youth participation in promoting peace and tolerance.

Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government was committed to eliminating extremism and establishing a peaceful society. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, he added, collective efforts were being made to implement the National Action Plan. He said the Centre of Excellence Against Extremism was working for social welfare and taking practical measures to address the challenges posed by extremism. He expressed confidence that the Punjab Youth Innovation and Incubation Competition 2026 would boost young people’s confidence and encourage them to develop new business ideas.

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Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi emphasised that young people and civil society had a key role in promoting peace, tolerance and forbearance. He said talented young people would serve as the vanguard in building a brighter, peaceful and prosperous Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Secretary Law Asif Bilal Lodhi, Secretary Auqaf Dr Ehsan Bhutta, Special Secretary Home Zainab Khan, Chief Coordination Officer Ghulam Sagheer Shahid, Executive Director Punjab Institute of Mental Health Professor Ayesha Rashid, DIG Counter Terrorism Department, Additional Secretary Judicial Abdul Rauf, representatives of the Higher Education and Information Departments, Deputy Secretary Finance, consultants Syed Tahir Raza Bukhari and Sohail Raza, and other relevant officials.

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Prof Dr Ali Madeeh Hashmi of the Department of Psychiatry at King Edward Medical University attended the meeting through video link.

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