Karachi's youth in conversation with elected representatives

Pildat, UNDP organise youth dialogue on democratic and peaceful governance

KARACHI: The elected representatives hardly go through or understand around 80% of the legislations approved in assembly sessions.

This was stated by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) spokesperson for Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Nazakat at a youth dialogue, 'Democratic and Peaceful Governance and Sustainable Development,' organised by the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Movenpick Hotel on Tuesday.



The dialogue aimed to bring together a cross-section of Pakistan's youth to interact with elected representatives belonging to key political parties, representatives of think tanks, citizen groups and the media.

It provided the youth an opportunity to question and seek answers from government representatives on issues such as employment, quality of education and extremism, especially in educational institutions.

The key speakers included former PPP senator Taj Haider, PPP Senator Sassui Palijo, PPP leader Vaqar Pagganwala, Muttahida Quami Movement - Pakistan leader Rashid Khilji, former senator Mukhtar Dhamra, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal's Abdul Rashid and Grand Democratic Alliance's Nusrat Sehar Abbasi.

Sharing the findings of a report published by the UNDP this year, Pildat President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said the report showcased three main problems that the youth face - education, employment and engagement with prominent figures of government.

Re-enacting the concept of a provincial assembly session, Pildat's dialogue offered the youth a podium to raise questions and discuss matters of importance instead of just listening to speeches from popular politicians.

The youth representatives highlighted issues such as implementation of manifestos, the reforms approved in assembly sessions but not implemented, educational institutions following the syllabus and structure that was established in Ziaul Haq's time.

"The youth must join some political party," said Nazakat, reiterating that change can only take place when the youth becomes a part of politics.

Meanwhile, Pagganwala took the audience by shock when he said that the youth sitting on stage across him appeared to be dull and lacking confidence. "Rules and bills are passed and approved in an AC room, but they lack ground-breaking reality," he highlighted.

He seconded Nazakat and said change can only come when younger members of society join political parties and sit in the assembly sessions.

In response to a query about the out dated structure of education, Haider said, "We have revised the syllabus in Sindh which falls under our domain, but when it comes to the HEC [Higher Education Commission] regulation, it lies with the federal government."



Commenting on the available statistics, Dhamra said surveys do not take into account the fact that there are more buildings and not enough school going children in comparison.

Much to the amusement of the audience, Dhamra proudly said his children did not attend private school and were enrolled in "yellow" schools instead. He was referring to public schools.

The PPP's Palijo claimed the party is trying to change and "reverse policies that were first put into effect by General Ziaul Haq."

Meanwhile, in response to a query on inclusion of transgender persons' rights in the MQM's manifesto, Khilji said that his party has not worked on any policies for transgender persons but were planning to in the near future. He added that the party was working towards the revival of student unions where the youth can stand together to bring change in Pakistan and not just one province.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 26^th, 2018.