LAHORE:
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Department of Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism and Plan Pakistan to launch a toll-free Punjab Youth Helpline.
Department Secretary Haroon Ahmad Khan and Plan Pakistan’s Country Director Rashid Javed signed the MoU on Monday during a ceremony held at the Hockey Stadium.
Addressing a press briefing later, Javed said that the helpline could be seen as a link to facilitate the government in matters pertaining to the youth especially after the launch of the Punjab Youth Policy. He said it was an important step that would help the government address youth issues. He said there were fewer opportunities for the youth and it was essential to give them guidance.
“They must be provided with timely guidance and counselling,” he said. Besides the challenge to cater to the growing needs of the youth, Javed said, it was an opportunity to steer the country in the “right direction”.
He also said the helpline will cater to the youth in all districts of the province. He said Plan Pakistan had assured the department about training individuals for counselling the youth through this helpline.
Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Rana Mashood Ahmed said the helpline, a pilot project that is expected to be launched within a month, will initially be operated for a year. A decision on continuing it will be taken after reviewing the response it receives.
Ahmed, who heads the chief minister’s youth mobilisation committee, said the helpline will be available seven days a week from 10am to 8pm. He said seven experts on health, career counselling and education have been appointed.
“Currenty the biggest youth related problem is the recent rise in the number of suicides,” he said, adding that the facilities for counselling currently available to the youth were quite limited.
He said department staff will also be trained in this regard.
Published In The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2012.
COMMENTS (4)
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Being the 1st Qualified Career Counsellor in Pakistan (Post Graduate in Career Guidance from London, UK), I feel that this is a brilliant service started by the Punjab government and indeed it should be continued. If I can be of any help in training the counsellors, please do let us know.
regards, Amin Saleem (Post Graduate in Career Guidance from London, UK).
@Sajid Mahmood Awan: This is what competition does! We should appreciate healthy competition between the parties.
Before 30th October 2011, there was no YOUTH on PML(N)'s manifesto but after PTI's successful Jalsa at Lahore, the PML(N) has started wooing the Youth, which has already committed itself with PTI and Imran Khan.
PML(N) : You are too late.
Now Support PTI - Support Pakistan