International Youth Day in Karachi

International Youth Day marked
Karachi, Aug 13: As elsewhere, the International Youth Day was marked in Karachi on Wednesday. A symposium was organised at a local hotel on Wednesday to mark the occasion. The moot was held under the auspices of the Youth Affairs Department of the Government of Sindh, in collaboration with the Habib University Foundation. The theme of the symposium was: "Understanding, Inspiring, and Empowering Youth". Sindh Minister for Youth Affairs, Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, was the chief guest. Speaking on the occasion, he emphasised the need for investing in the youth as this would help enhance their confidence.

He was of the view that there was a need of streamlining the course of our approach with regard to the policies and programmes for the young. Subzwari stressed that it should be seen that the youth are provided with ample opportunities to enable them to play their full role in the development of society.

Speaking on the occasion, the Nazim of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK), Syed Mustafa Kamal, emphasised that the youth should be supported at every level as well as duly encouraged. He said that the youths constituted 65 percent of the population of the country and that they were the future of Pakistan.

The City Nazim also emphasised that the youngsters should be empowered. The Sindh Secretary, Youth Affairs, Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, said that the Government of Sindh had taken various steps for resolving the problems of the youth. Provincial Director of the British Council, Mashood Rizvi, and others also spoke on the occasion.

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Int'l Youth Day observed
Lahore: The International Youth Day (IYD) was observed under the aegis of Pakistan Workers Federation (PWF) at Bukhtiar Labour Hall on Wednesday. Addressing the gathering, the speakers said that during the next ten years more than one billion youth would enter into labour market in the world and 1.5 million youth would enter into labour market in Pakistan every year. They said the international market would be required to provide meaningful education, training, employment, decent work and social security to them. They stated that for raising employment opportunities for the youth and elimination of poverty in the country, it was need of the hour that problem of loadshedding should be tackled on war-footing basis.

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Pakistan has best talent in the world
Rawalpindi: Pakistan has the best talent in the world but the need is to channelise youth and engage them in more constructive activities.

This was stated by Dr Sarwat Rasool, Assistant Professor English Department of Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU), Rawalpindi, while addressing a seminar, organised by the university's Library Administration to observe the International Youth Day here Wednesday.

The purpose of the seminar was to create awareness among the young citizens of society regarding their role and responsibilities, and the need for active involvement towards the betterment of society.

Dr Sarwat briefed the audience regarding the responsibilities of good citizenship in the changing global scenario. She was of the view that every person could contribute towards the betterment of society by utilising his/her potentials, even with little positive manoeuvres.

Rabia Akhtar, Incharge Department of Defence & Diplomatic Studies and Acting Chair Library Committee, and Mr Umer, Information Resource Person American Information Resource Centre (AIRC) of American Embassy in Islamabad, were also present on the occasion.

The International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 every year worldwide including Pakistan. The theme of this year was 'Sustainability: Our Challenge, Our Future'.

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280 selected for National Youth Assembly
Islamabad: On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Youth Parliament of Pakistan announced results on 280 seats of its National Youth Assembly that will be convened in October-November 2009.

Famous singer and social activist Abrar ul Haq gave the idea of Youth Parliament of Pakistan in January 2006 during a press conference in Islamabad and started its membership campaign in 2008. It has more than 70,000 members from all parts of the country representing all segments of society.

The Youth Parliament of Pakistan is composed of one national youth assembly, five provincial youth assemblies and 139 district youth assemblies.

For the election of 350 Members of the National Youth Assembly (MNYA), the Youth Parliament of Pakistan started a reality TV show titled 'Kon Ho Ga Naujawanon Ka Wazeer-e-Azam' and potential members from every constituency of Pakistan were invited to contest the elections of National Youth Assembly. Around 30 per cent of the total votes were decided during the programme and the remaining 70 per cent were decided through SMS voting.

Addressing a press briefing live from Oslo, Norway, Abrar ul Haq, chairman of the Youth Parliament of Pakistan, said that young people were always ignored and never given priority and opportunity to play their vital role in leadership and community development. He said that the candidates who failed to qualify for the National Youth Assembly would be given opportunity in provincial and district youth assemblies.

"We believe that from the platform of YPP, many projects of micro nature at grassroots level addressing the basic needs of poor and needy will be started," he said adding that they maintained transparency and democratic attitudes in the whole election process.

Announcing the results, Project Coordinator Youth Parliament of Pakistan Bilal Ahmad Rana said that young people of Pakistan was eager and passionate to perform a positive role in society provided they had a platform and avenues to excel.

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25 talented youngsters get National Youth Award
Islamabad: As many as 25 youngsters were conferred upon National Youth Awards in an auspicious ceremony organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs to mark International Youth Day at the National Library here on Wednesday.

August 12 was declared as International Youth Day on December 17, 1999 by United Nations (UN) General Assembly in its resolution 54/1201.

The awards were distributed among youth in 11 categories that included Literature, Culture, Education, Science and Technology, Sports, Community Service, Media, Qira'at and Na'at, Environment, Special Youth and Jinnah Youth Award.

Those who received awardees included Zahid Imroz, Sarah Syed Kazmi, Najia Sajjad Khan, Abdul Ghafar Afridi, Rakae Rehman Jamil, Naveed Khan, Sidra Aurangzeb, Eisha Hanif Chaudhry, Abdullah Bin Khurram, Fayyaz-ul-Amir, Afsar Minhas, Maher Dil Khan Babai, Usman Rafique, Ghulam Farid Sabri, Abdul Salam Naz, Sonia Riaz, Saeed Abdullah, Hafiz Muhammad Hamid Raza, Syed Ikram Akram Bokhari, Amina Zafar, Haider Ali, Ayesha Zafar, Muhammad Aadil, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (organisation), Jacob Paul and Dr G Abbas.

While expressing his emotions on the occasion, one of the winners in the category of Special Youth, Mohammad Aadil, said, "Thousands of special persons like me want to contribute in the progress of the country, but could not materialise their dreams due to the unfavourable environment." He said that there is a need to address the issues of special persons in order to fully utilise their potential in the progress and prosperity of the country. Aadil said that 10 per cent of the population constitutes persons with different disabilities, who deserve 10 per cent quota in every walk of life.

"The initiatives, like youth awards would definitely encourage youth to strive for big achievements in different walks of life," he said.

Another award winner, Sarah Syed Kazmi, said that creativity was the defined feature of youth, which not only enhance their capabilities in different fields, but also shows the way towards the solution of many problems. "We should think in term of hierarchies rather than dichotomies in order to progress," she said while adding we must seek unity in diversity prevailing in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Senate Chairman Farooque H Naek said that the empowerment and participation of youth was inevitable for the progress and prosperity of the country. "The challenges of sustainability confronted by the country in the prevailing situation could only be dealt with the active participation of youth," he said.

Naek said that the present government realises the importance of youth in nation building hence launching many programmes to mainstream the youth of the country. "The role of media could not be denied in promoting the talented youth besides motivating them to actively participate in the progress of the country," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Youth Affairs Shahid Hussain Bhutto said that there was no dearth of potential and talented youth in the country, but the need was to provide them opportunities in order to utilise their potential. He said that youth should realise their responsibilities, as a sensible citizen of the country and play their role more effectively in the development of the country.

Ministry of Youth Affairs Secretary Hifz-ur-Rehman said that they had received a total of 1,817 applications for different categories and after a transparent selection process only 25 youngsters were selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions in different fields.

National songs and tableaus were also presented on the occasion, which infused the spirit of enthusiasm among the audience present on the occasion.

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Govt taking concrete steps to employ youth: Babar Awan
Islamabad: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Babar Awan announced that the government was taking concrete measures to employ youth in diversified fields.

He stated this while addressing media at his office today in a ceremony arranged for presenting cheque to the widow of Amjad Hussain, a PPP worker who was martyred in an incident in October last year.

He said for utilising energies of youth in productive activities, short, mid and long-term policies are being evolved by the cabinet under the instructions of prime minister.

The minister also announced to give residential flat in Karachi to the family of Amjad Hussain.

Dr. Babar Awan said although there can be no alternate to the human life but such steps reflect that Pakistan People's Party always acknowledge and remember the sacrifices of its workers.

PPP has always sacrificed for the cause of democracy and considered those party workers a precious asset who contributed for the strengthening of democratic norms, he added.

President Asif Ali Zardari would announce major scheme for workers on August 14, he disclosed and said it would be the second ever revolutionary scheme by PPP government after making industrial laws for the benefit of workers.

The government has decided to celebrate August 4 as the day of working class every year, the Minister said adding in the era of dictatorship, thousands of people were employed on the basis of favouritism and not merit and a number of people were sacked without any reason. To protect the future of reinstated employees, the order of reinstatement would soon be presented to the parliament to be made an act, he said.

Dr Babar Awan and Palwasha Khan MNA handed over the cheque of Rs 0.3 million to widow of Amjad Hussain on behalf of government of Sindh and chief minister of Sindh on the special directives of Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto and Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.

The present government was acting upon its five-year roadmap to give relief to the people, he said adding despite strong propaganda of the opponents, the government in its one and a half year tenure worked for the welfare of masses.

The minister said internally displaced persons were sent back with honour and dignity, which proved that the PPP government has capability to tackle any challenge.

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'Rahnuma' celebrates Youth Day
Islamabad: To celebrate the International Youth Day, 'Rahnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan (FPAP)' organised a function here on Wednesday.

As many as 65 young boys and girls, aged between 18 and 30 years, representing different segments of society, participated in the function. Most of the participants were registered as 'volunteers' with the 'Rahnuma-FPAP'.

They are engaged in different activities aimed at creating awareness among the masses at grassroots level in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

A young woman from China, working with a non-governmental organisation (NGO), also joined in the day's activity.

The participants openly spoke on various social, cultural, economic and political issues during the function, sharing their point of view on the matters, abundantly reflecting how they feel about the prevailing conditions in the country and how terrorism, religious intolerance, spiralling prices and even power shortages have been affecting the lives and minds of people.

They not only spoke their mind out, but they also presented short sketches to convey their feelings and emotions, sang and danced to make it a day that not only focused on the problems but the lighter side of the life as well as the flicker of hope that they carry for the future of mankind being young and leaders of the future. At the end souvenirs were distributed amongst the participants by the organisers. The news

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