October 23, 2002	Wednesday	Sha’aban 16,1423

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ISLAMABAD, Oct 22: All is set to approve the national youth policy, and for this purpose, a national youth foundation fund will be created to launch various projects for the welfare of youth in the country.

Sources told Dawn that the Cabinet, in its meeting on Wednesday, would approve the policy to facilitate around 35 million youth.

The sources said the foundation would be established with an endowment fund of Rs1 billion to initiate programmes, including self-employment through venture capital.

The foundation will have a board of trustees, an executive committee and a managing director to give policy directions and to manage, control and evaluate its activities.

The foundation will carry out research, survey and self-employment programmes for youth, encourage youth NGOs and volunteers, organize training camps, conventions, seminars and conferences and establish youth development centres.

The projects in the areas of vital importance including, employment, education and training, health, environment, culture and art, has also been included in the policy.

The policy covers the institutional structure comprising national council, students volunteer corps and national youth foundation.

The policy also proposes proactive collaboration between NGOs and the government to address the problems of youth.

The policy also envisions special efforts to eliminate terrorism, extremism, ethnicity, religious intolerance, obscenity, violence against women and discrimination of any count among the young.

According to the policy, protection and humanitarian assistance would be provided to rehabilitate the marginalized youth groups, orphans, destitute, disadvantaged and disabled youth.

About education and training, the policy said steps would be taken for the achievement of universal literacy and education for all, promotion of social, scientific and technological education, research and development, persistent upgradation of skills and knowledge, development of libraries, institutions of learning and removal of regional and gender disparity.

About health, it said extension and upgradation of physical and mental health, public health, preventive health care and population welfare and rehabilitation care facilities would be undertaken to inculcate healthy practices amongst the youth.

Awareness and preventive campaigns and programmes would be launched against drug abuse, smoking, HIV/AIDS, communicable diseases, nutritional imbalance, accidental injuries, psychological and mental illnesses and environmental hazards and problems.

Mechanism would be devised to reactivate sports associations to undertake nation-wide competitive events.

Promotion of youth tourism, youth hostels, youth clubs and national youth exchange programmes for youth group tourism, excursion trips to archaeological, historical and tourist sites will also be encouraged.