Empowering the young: Students celebrate International Youth Day

Sukkur DIG encourages youth to prepare to take over reins of the country

SUKKUR: The youth will have to take over the reins of this country and therefore they should prepare themselves in this context, said Sukkur Police DIG Captain (retd) Feroze Shah on Tuesday.

The DIG said this while addressing participants of an event held at Riverside Community School in Sukkur, which was organised to celebrate International Youth Day and Independence Day, which were around two weeks ago. The event was held by Riverside Development Organisation (RDO), in collaboration with Sukkur social welfare department, World Vision, Nari Foundation and others.

"Today we are living in a global village, which is well connected through the mobile phone and internet. Gone are the days when people knew nothing, even about their neighbouring countries," Shah said, adding that the modern technology has connected the world.



Referring to the recent appointments of constables in Sukkur police, the DIG said that this is the first time that candidates have to qualify in written test through National Testing Service, while their physical test was taken by the army. He added that all appointments were made on merit basis and only talented candidates were chosen after they passed the tests. On one hand Pakistan is rich in history and culture, while on the other it is full of talent, the DIG said. Shah advised the students to stop looking for shortcuts and instead utilise their energies to seek proper education. The DIG also appreciated the RDO's humanitarian work of providing quality education to the children who live in slums.

Students of government and private schools, office bearers of various non-governmental organisations and media persons attended the programme. Students presented performances, showcasing the role of youth in Pakistan's future. Besides this, a speech contest was also held, in which five students from different schools participated. Through their speeches, the students urged the youth not to waste their time in random activities and instead seek knowledge through all available resources.

The RDO started working for the welfare of the people living on the right side of River Indus (Katcha Bunder), said the organisation's executive director Munawwar Gill. Initially, the RDO provided free medical facilities to the people and gradually started schools in their localities, he added. Referring to the establishment of Riverside Community School, Gill said that after the super flood of 2010, authorities asked the residents of Katcha Bunder to move to another place. In 2011, the place was vacated and the residents moved to Achiyoon Kubiyon, near Rohri, and for their children this school was established, he said. Today around 450 students are studying in the school and are provided free education, books, stationery and pick and drop facility, Gill added.

Others who addressed the audience include the RDO manager Sara Sehar, Sukkur Baitul Mal assistant director Shabbir Memon, Sukkur social welfare department's assistant director Abdul Qudoos Memon and deputy director Naseer Shah.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2016.