Experts, youth leaders huddle to discuss opportunities for youth at two-day conference. PHOTO: APP
Participants of a conference called for empowering the youth, half the country’s population, by providing platforms for development and integrating them as active and responsible citizens.
This will not only nurture their capabilities, but also help them towards contributing to the social, economic and political development of the country. However, creating opportunities and avenues is a two-way street and the youth should work to utilise and materialise them.
This was the crux of a conference on Youth Civic Engagement that marked the International Youth Day on Wednesday. The conference was organised by Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) in collaboration with UNDP at the Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services.
The two-day conference engaged over 200 parliamentarians, diplomats, academicians, representatives of federal and provincial governments and youth.
Youth ambassadors from across the country shared the status of federal and provincial youth policies and initiatives, and called or increase in the education budget and implementation of Article 25-A of the Constitution.
National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, who inaugurated the conference, appreciated the youth for being progressive and talented. He encouraged their participation in civic activities for the social uplift of the nation.
Furthermore, Sadiq emphasised on a holistic approach to development, by investing time in academic and extracurricular activities.
Minister for Interprovincial Coordination and Youth Riaz Pirzada acknowledged the initiative of the young parliamentarians, who across party lines, are working for youth engagement and spreading the message of religious and ethnic tolerance.
YPF General Secretary and MNA Shaza Fatimah said “Pakistan is lucky for having one of the most talented youths of the world, who have advanced in education, sports, science and information technology[, among other fields].”
She expressed pride in acknowledging Arfa Kareem Randhawa, who became the youngest Microsoft Certified Professional; Naseem Hameed, the fastest woman of South Asia; Sameena Baig, the first Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest and Haroon Tariq who secured 47 As in O-levels this year to set a new world record.
UNDP Pakistan Country Director Marc-André Franche said “There is a critical need to engage Pakistan’s youth bulge, and strengthen their role in community activities and decision-making. This will only be possible by increasing their active civic engagement in socio-economic and political affairs.”
“We want to change the way youth are thought of in the country. Not as a problem to be solved, but as a potential to be realised,” he further added.
UNDP Assistant Country Director Shakeel Ahmed presented insight into the National Human Development Report 2015, underlining how youth can be change agents for the country.
By ensuring the youth have access to quality education, meaningful employment and genuine opportunities for engagement, they can be mobilised to become agents of positive change towards prosperity, peace and human development.
Moreover, the programme featured interactive group discussions on youth-centric themes such as social and political engagement and tolerance for grooming the youth for harnessing their strengths, getting their feedback on obstacles and networking for opportunities of academic and professional growth.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 13th, 2015.
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