Youth must play its role in uplifting the country: Azhar

EAD minister says the young generation is the future of Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The youth is a powerhouse of infinite energy and even Allama Mohammad Iqbal had focused on them in his poetry, urging them to work for the betterment of the nation.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Division Hammad Azhar on Friday while addressing the concluding session of a two-day National Youth Conference.

The conference had been jointly organised by the Paigham-e-Pakistan Centre for Peace Reconciliation and Reconstruction Studies of the Islamabad Research Institute (IRI) and the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), the Quaid-i-Azam University, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), National Skills University, Islamabad and the International Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences and Union of AFRO-Asia Universities.

Azhar said that said the young generation is the future of Pakistan and that they can play a pivotal role in the development of the country and its prosperity.

Unfortunately, he said that the youth have been ignored in the past by the rulers of the country. He added that the incumbent government has prioritised the provision of maximum opportunities to the youth of the country, allowing them to develop.

“It is very important to rectify our past mistakes and move forward in the right direction to achieve our set targets,” the federal minister said, adding that maintenance of peace was essential for making the country prosperous and stable.

IIUI President Dr Ahmed Yousif Al -Draiweesh, IIUI Rector Prof Dr Masoom Yasinzai, AIOU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Ziaul Qayyum, Vice-Chancellors Committee Chairman and QAU Vice-Chancellor Dr Ali Shah and the chief organizer of the conference, IRI Director General Prof Dr Ziaul Haq, spoke on the occasion.

Peace award

In recognition of his efforts and contribution for promoting peace, tolerance, harmony and co-curricular activities at campuses of different universities across the country, educationist Murtaza Noor has been conferred the 'Peace Award'.

The award was given in a special ceremony during the National Youth Conference.

Noor currently works as the national coordinator of the Inter-University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan and as the country coordinator for the Global Academics Leadership Academy a network of Pakistani universities.

The award was given by IIU President Dr Al-Draiweesh along with IRI Director-General Dr Haq.

According to the citation of the award, Noor had rendered invaluable services for undertaking various useful initiatives aimed at peacebuilding at university campuses.

These initiatives also include promoting social sciences and civic education, developing a road-map on peacebuilding in higher education institutions, organising three successful editions of International Students Convention and Expos.

He had also worked for strengthening campus-based student societies across Pakistan and encouraging inter-university collaborations and networking by organising the Vice-Chancellors and Directors of Student Affairs conferences, workshops and several other activities.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2019.