LAHORE:
“We aim to integrate the youth into policy making and enable them to participate meaningful in societal development by bringing a social change through policy advocacy, peer education, capacity building and awareness,” Muhammad Shahzad, the Chanan Development Association (CDA) executive director said on Friday.
He was talking about the three-day Asian Youth Conference and Peace Festival that will take place in Lahore from September 28 in collaboration with the Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
CDA had organised a similar event last year that attracted more than 500 participants from across Pakistan and South Asia. Shahzad said he was looking forward to host a double number this year.
The conference’s theme Together we are the Solution is the same as last year. It aims to highlight youth participation in Asia towards promoting harmony and regional cooperation. Shahzad said that it will include 50 delegates from various Asian countries, 200 from Lahore and 350 from the rest of Pakistan. All the participants were between 15 to 24 years old, he said.
Discussion of the first day will focus on leadership potential and effective participation. The theme for the second day will be the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals with a prime focus on youth’s approach towards achieving the goals for 2015. The last day will celebrate diversity. It will take into account the regional diversity and seek ways to help create an inter-faith and inter-cultural harmony.
Participants from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, North Korea, Phillipines and Thailand will reach Lahore on September 27.
“The Indian delegation has registered itself, but is facing some issue with the visa process,” Shahzad said, adding, “hopefully it will be resolved.”
Those from Lahore include students from the Lahore University of Management and Sciences, Beaconhouse National University, Lahore School of Economics, Kinnaird College for Women and Forman Christian College. The festival will include essay, poster, short film and Asian flag competitions.
Shahzad explained that Youth Affairs Departments of all provincial governments had been invited to participate in the festival. He said he expected all provinces to be represented by official delegations.
Maqbool Malick, the Information, Culture and Youth Affairs Department deputy secretary (planning), said “We welcome any activity that works towards youth development in the province.” he said. Malick said that the establishment of a Directorate of Youth Affairs was in the pipeline. A summary in that respect will soon be sent to the chief minister, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2011.
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Very nice.....Shahzad Khan keep up the good work.