LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sunday announced the launch of Punjab Climate Leadership Development Internship programme, aimed at engaging young people in environmental protection and climate governance.
The programme will offer a monthly stipend of Rs60,000 to selected interns. Upon completion of the three-month internship, participants will receive an official certificate from the Government of Punjab. Fifty per cent of the seats have been reserved for female students to ensure equal opportunities.
The initiative will also facilitate certification in collaboration with UNESCO. Interns will gain practical experience by working with officers of the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency and contributing to environmental policy units, while also receiving exposure to modern learning management systems.
Applications can be submitted online until March 29 through the official portal of Environment Protection Department.
Welcoming youth participation, the chief minister said young people can play a meaningful role in environmental improvement through the programme. She added that through sustained efforts, environmental pollution levels in Punjab, particularly in Lahore, are gradually declining.
Separately, CM Maryam Nawaz Sunday condemned the rising trend of Islamophobia worldwide and called for stronger global efforts to eliminate discrimination and unfair treatment against Muslims.
In her message on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the chief minister said Islamophobia has led to unjust treatment of Muslims in many parts of the world. She noted that innocent Muslims in Palestine and Kashmir continue to suffer oppression and injustice due to growing anti-Muslim sentiment.
Maryam Nawaz said Islam is a religion of peace that promotes harmony and coexistence, adding that it guarantees fundamental human rights. She stressed the need to present Islamic values in a positive and constructive manner to counter Islamophobia.
She also urged the Muslim countries to overcome internal differences and emerge as a symbol of unity. Practicing Islamic values and maintaining responsible individual conduct, she said, can play a key role in defeating Islamophobia. The chief minister called on people to renew their commitment to tolerance, patience and mutual respect, stressing that greater global efforts are needed to eradicate the issue.
