The International Youth Day (IYD) Pakistan
Youth Day
Lahore, Aug 12: The International Youth Day (IYD) will be observed across the world including
Pakistan on Wednesday (today). The day is a great opportunity to rally
support and get key actors involved including government, non-governmental
organizations, academic institutions, businesses besides young people to focus
on what has been done to further the World Programme of Action for Youth.
On the IYD, different youth organizations will organize meetings and
hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of young
people focusing on youth issues and how they can be addressed. A major
focus of the day is practical action to further encourage the empowerment and
participation of youth in the processes and decisions that affect their lives.
The media has especially an important role to play in support of the observance
of the day to promote public awareness of the youth's issues. This year, to
commemorate the day, young people aging from11 to 25 from all around the world
can submit photographs and drawings to participate in a global photographic
competition 'Shoot Nations'. A selection of photographs will be presented to the
United Nations and displayed at UN Headquarters from 3-14 August in
commemoration of International Youth Day. The United Nations Programme on Youth
is encouraging youth organisations around the world to host community barter
fairs for International Youth Day. Remember, with bartering, there is no money
involved but only pure exchange of goods and services. In the provincial
metropolis, Youth Parliament of Pakistan, a national institution for young
people established by Abrar-ul-Haq, will observe the IYD. The news
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Nepotism, favouritism alleged in selection process
Islamabad, Aug 12: The deprived youth once again feel betrayed over the selection
process for the National Youth Award 2009 that to be held under the auspices of
the Ministry of Youth Affairs today (Wednesday), it has been learnt
reliably. The Ministry of Youth Affairs has finalised the list of candidates
for the National Youth Award and Jinnah Youth Award-2009 and the investiture
ceremony is going to be taking place today at the occasion of the International
Youth Day. According to official document, the Ministry had invited
nomination from the Pakistan nationals including AJK for the said awards. As per
laid down selection procedure, two tier procedures was adopted firstly
preliminary selection committee had a series of meeting from July 16 to July 21,
2009 to shortlist the nominations. Finally the committee members had recommended
61 names out of total 817 applications received for 16 different categories of
the National Youth Award-2009. Thereafter, final selection committee of
National Youth Award was held under the chairmanship of Secretary on August 4,
2009. The Committee includes members from different federal ministries,
provincial secretaries of Youth Affairs Department and two experts. The
committee recommended 22 youth from all over Pakistan for 15 different
categories for the National Youth Award 2009 and three (one for Organization and
two for individuals) for Jinnah Youth Award 2009. However, once again the
youth alleged the authority for its nepotism in selection process saying that
the violation of set rules and favouritism was practised in removing youngsters
from the awards. "I was unjustly removed from the selected list of candidates
of the National Youth Awards last year, after that I made a group of deprived
youth with the name of "Voice for Youth Rights" and raised voice against the
authority," Hanaan Abbasi, a youngster informed. This year too, he maintained, "I applied for the said awards, but I have faced
the same experience as a result of my efforts against the Ministry." Today,
Another deprived youngster Sajad Nisar opined that he registered complaint with
the Minister for Youth Affairs, whose response was encouraging. This scribe
time and again tried to contact the Joint Secretary of Youth Ministry, Naeem
Baig for seeking his comments on the matter, but all in vain. However, when
approached another official of the Ministry he was of the view that there mush
be equal representation of provinces, but the selecting committee has chosen
only one youngster from Sindh province. In 2007,the National Youth Award Scheme
was initiated for recognising the achievements of the young people in their
lives and the volunteers working for the welfare and development of the youth.
Under this scheme there are two types of awards including the National Youth
Award and the Jinnah Youth Award. The National Youth Award for those youngsters,
who excel in the field of Literature, culture, education, science and qirat and
Naat, Management Sciene, agriculture, computer science and information
technology, environment, technicians, paramedics and skilled workers and for
special youth. Jinnah Youth Awards for the volunteer organization for their
outstanding achievements in the field of youth welfare and development. The
award comprises a cash award of Rs 50,000 for each awardee accompanied by a
shield and certificate. The Nation
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Youth key to sustainable development: NA speaker
Islamabad: National Assembly Speaker Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that proper utilisation of the
youth potential could steer the world out of crisis recently being faced by it.
She termed youth, key partner in sustainable development of the world.
She said this in her message on International Youth Day, to be observed on 12th
August under the auspices of United Nations. She said that the world was facing
multiple interconnected crises with severe and far-reaching impacts that fall
disproportionately on the youth. The speaker said that let us all
resolve on this day to invest in and protect our most valuable resource, and
give young men and women a fair and full stake in our society, and in its
success. Dr. Fehmida Mirza said that young people have proven themselves
to be key partners in sustainable development; therefore, they should be engaged
by the governments and communities to formulate poverty reduction strategies,
entrepreneurial schemes and many other policies and initiatives. She
said that youth deserve our commitment for full access to education, adequate
health care, employment opportunities, financial services and full participation
in public life. Youth comprises more than 25 per cent of the world's working age
population yet accounted for 40 per cent of the unemployed. In view of
the global economic downturn; the youth unemployment may continue to climb,
therefore, government should ensure financial, education and technical support
made available to young people, and help them realize their potential.
Dr. Fehmida said that the country was currently passing through a
crucial period of history. The future of the country depends on the youth since
active participation of educated young population plays vital role in
development of the nation. She said that this situation necessitates
intense efforts from both public and private sectors to play their role in
transforming this populace into educated and trained human resource for the
mutual benefit. The news
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Madrassa teacher beats child with iron rod
Rawalpindi: A madrassa teacher beat up his nine-year-old student with an iron
rod and burnt his hands with cigarettes in Rawat on Sunday. Zaheer Hussain, of
Dhoke Kangal, told police on Tuesday that his nephew Asif Hussain, 9, was
expelled from a Navy Road madrassa on the charge of stealing a computer. He said
on Monday morning when his brother went to the madrassa to take his son home, he
found the child crying in pain. Hussain quoted the child as saying that his
teacher Hafiz Majeed along with senior student Khizar beat him black and blue
with an iron rod; burnt his hands with cigarettes, and kept him in a darkroom on
Sunday night. He said the child had wounds and bruises all over his body. Police
sent the madrassa student to the Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital for medical
examination and began investigation into the case. Daily times
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Dintinction
Rawalpindi: Muhammad Umar Farooq, student of St. Marks Cathedral High School for
Boys, Satellite Town, got 921 marks and Arifa Afzal, a student of St. Marks
Cathedral High School for Girls, Rashid Colony, Sadiqabad, secured 961 marks in
the Secondary School Certificate Annual Examination of the Rawalpindi Board of
Intermediate and Secondary Education, says a press release. Both the students
stood first in their classes. Talha Hamid, a student of Sir Syed Public School, Tipu Road, secured 882 marks
in the Secondary School Certificate Annual Examination 2009, held under the
Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi, says a press release
issued here Tuesday. Mahrukh Khan, a student of Anglo Arabic Public Girls High School, Satellite
Town, secured 871 marks, in the Secondary School Certificate, Annual Examination
2009 held under the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Rawalpindi,
says a press release issued here on Tuesday. The news
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