PHOTO: FILE
QUETTA: Liaquat Shahwani, the spokesperson for Balochistan chief minister, has said the provincial government is developing a youth policy while focusing on the allocation of budget for sports grounds.
“Jam Kamal led government is also working for the provision of recreational facilities to women,” Shahwani said while addressing a provincial policy dialogue session held at BUITEMS University on Wednesday.
Ministry of Human Rights Deputy Director Jahanara Tabassum, Pishin DEO Khalida Taj and senior journalist Shahid Rind were the other prominent speakers at the session.
Provincial youth members who were the part of previous dialogues shared their recommendations regarding education, gender equality and young peoples’ engagement in the decision-making process.
The main objective of the provincial policy dialogue was to present issues in front of policymakers and to conduct a discussion on suggestions made by youth.
The dialogue was hosted by Individual land in collaboration with UNDP and VSO.
Sundas Syeda from Individualland moderated the session and conducted a session on the importance of young people’s role in policy and decision making in every field of life.
She stressed the need for active and mandatory participation of young people in the political processes which will help restructure policies according to the demands of youth.
People with diverse backgrounds – students, media persons, government departments, policymakers, international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), NGOs – participated in the dialogue.
The young people voiced their concerns and gave recommendations for youth engagement in decision making, lack of awareness on policymaking process, education system, discrimination on basis of gender and disability, media and its role for youth development and issues related to employment.
A participant was of the opinion that the dialogue has provided a platform to all the young participants to contribute their points of view on the issues that create divisions in society.
Another participant applauded the efforts of the organisers in providing them with an opportunity to have detailed discussion on issues of mutual importance.
Due to limited exposure and opportunities of social and political inclusion, young people in Pakistan have not been partners in driving their agendas forward hand in hand with policymakers.
The policymakers, related state institutions, and media addressed the issues and assured that they will initiate discussion on the suggestions made by young people regarding social, political, legal and economic development.
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