CM Inaugurates Rasul University, Announces Teaching Hospital

Key Points:

The chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, inaugurated the University of Rasul and Rasul Medical College in Mandi Bahauddin on Tuesday.
A state-of-the-art teaching hospital will be established in Rasul and Rasul Medical College admissions will begin in January 2027.
Laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques were distributed to students from Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat at the ceremony.
Electric bike distribution for students will begin on Nov 5.

MANDI BAHAUDDIN: The chief minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, inaugurated the University of Rasul and Rasul Medical College during a visit to Mandi Bahauddin on Tuesday and announced a teaching hospital in Rasul, officials said.

The chief minister distributed laptops and Honhaar Scholarship cheques among students at a ceremony at the University of Rasul. Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat briefed participants on the Honhaar Scholarship and laptop schemes.

During the ceremony the chief minister visited the multipurpose hall and cut a cake with female students. She took selfies with students and embraced them, officials said.

The chief minister presents a portrait to a student at the University of Rasul ceremony — The chief minister presents a portrait to a student at the ceremony.

The chief minister cuts a cake with students in the multipurpose hall at the University of Rasul — The chief minister cuts a cake with students in the multipurpose hall.

A student presented a portrait and a book to the chief minister. Female students sang “Tariyan Ton Vi Sohni” in her honour and joined her in patriotic songs, officials said.

A police contingent presented a general salute to students receiving scholarships and laptops. The chief minister embraced a young girl and said she could not bear to see tears in any daughter’s eyes.

She personally approached Maimoona, a polio-affected student. She showed her affection.

Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman was specially commended during the ceremony.

Teaching hospital and medical college

The chief minister announced the establishment of a state-of-the-art teaching hospital in Rasul. Admissions to Rasul Medical College will begin in January 2027, officials said.

The government has invested billions of rupees in the University of Rasul. New departments of social sciences, life sciences and business management have been established so students can pursue higher education closer to home.

Only 149 students were enrolled at the university when the chief minister took the oath of office. Enrolment has since risen to around 3,000 students, officials said.

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Laptops and scholarships

In Mandi Bahauddin district, 50 students of public universities and 38 students of private and federal universities received Honhaar Scholarships. Scholarships were also awarded to 15 medical college students and 368 students of colleges in the district.

Under the laptop scheme, 5,531 students from Mandi Bahauddin and Gujrat received laptops. The breakdown covers 2,406 students of the University of Gujrat, 521 students of the University of Rasul and 173 students of the University of Chenab.

It also covers 87 students of the University of Science and Technology, 80 students of the Air University Kharian Campus and 39 students of Nawaz Sharif Medical College. A further 2,021 students from 21 colleges and 204 female students of a nursing college received laptops.

For scholarships, 1,055 students of the University of Gujrat, 51 students of the University of Chenab and 610 students from 18 colleges received awards.

During the current year, 50,000 scholarships have been allocated for 70 disciplines across Punjab. A further 5,069 scholarships have been awarded to students from other provinces.

The chief minister said access to government schemes would be decided on merit rather than political influence or personal recommendations. She said no one could establish that personal recommendations had influenced the selection of beneficiaries.

She congratulated students who received laptops and scholarships and paid tribute to their parents. Participants stood to acknowledge the contribution of parents, who often set aside their own aspirations for their children.

The chief minister said every child was a living, breathing Pakistan. She urged young people to remain loyal to their country and never allow the national flag to be lowered.

Merit, safety and welfare

The chief minister said the government was committed to equal opportunities for students. She said her government would continue development projects and public welfare programmes on merit.

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Distribution of electric bikes will begin on Nov 5, with black bikes for boys and pink bikes for girls. The bikes are meant to help student mobility and reduce dependence on others for transport.

Under the Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar programme, the government is working to build 250,000 houses without favouritism. More than 35,000 kilometres of roads have been constructed or repaired across Punjab, officials said.

The chief minister said she was prepared to go to jail to protect the people of Punjab and ensure justice. She warned influential individuals against exploiting or mistreating poorer citizens.

She called on offenders to stop targeting women and girls and said the law must apply equally to the rich and the poor. She expressed concern over the grant of bail to suspects in a scooter incident involving a girl and a petrol station case.

She urged the judiciary to ensure punishments served as a deterrent. She said she was willing to meet the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justice of the Lahore High Court if necessary on public safety and access to justice.

Suspects in rape cases in Punjab are arrested within two hours, the chief minister said. She said she had personally contacted the girl involved in the scooter incident and brought the two parties in the petrol station case face to face.

She urged citizens to report abuse promptly so offenders could not repeat their actions. The government would stand by victims regardless of the social or political influence of those responsible, she said.

Students sang national songs with enthusiasm at the ceremony. The chief minister said their performances had strengthened her confidence in the country’s future.

She urged young people to reject violence and destructive protests. Parents equipped their children with books and laptops rather than weapons, she said, adding that Pakistan’s destiny was in the hands of its youth.

She also referred to development work in Mandi Bahauddin, including green buses, new markets, a food street and parks. She said she was impressed by the city’s cleanliness.

The chief minister said she was accountable to Allah Almighty, the people and herself for her decisions. Students are also being provided with Chromebooks alongside laptops, scholarships and electric bikes, officials said.