August 18, 2007	Saturday	Sha’aban 4, 1428

RAWALPINDI, Aug 17: Ministry of Youth Affairs, on the 60th Independence Day of Pakistan, released the first-ever National Youth Policy which is aimed at mainstreaming youth, harnessing their talent and energies and addressing challenges being confronted by them.

The draft policy was placed on the website of the Ministry of Youth Affairs on Tuesday for two weeks to get comments and suggestions after which it will be sent to the federal cabinet for approval.

The main thrust of the National Youth Policy is to enable the youth of the country to become proud Pakistanis, good citizens and prepare them for income generation in their practical life and secure the future of the nation.

Based on three principles — motivation, awareness and sense of pride — the youth policy intends to inculcate a sense of pride by creating awareness of the country’s history, heritage and achievements; expose youth to works and examples of high achievers in the world in various walks of life and install a passion to excel and achieve excellence; and develop amongst the youth an international outlook, a desire to compete, an insight into other cultures and desire to learn lessons from achievements and errors of others.