August 01, 2008	Friday	Rajab 28, 1429

ISLAMABAD, July 31: The national youth policy should be implemented to ensure participation of the younger generation in policy development.

This was stressed by speakers during a press briefing session held in connection with the International Youth Day programmes here. The briefing was arranged to discuss programmes to be held on the occasion of ‘Youth Day’. These programmes would be organised jointly by the Youth Advocacy Network (YAN), a youth-led initiative of World Population Foundation (WPF), and Capital Development Authority (CDA).

Youth Day will be observed on August 12 and this year’s theme is ‘Youth and Climate Change; Time for Action’. The slogan for the day is ‘Grooming Youth for Greener Pakistan’. This day gives an opportunity to recognise the potential of youth, celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to engage young people in social development process.

Project Coordinator, YAN, Fahad Shafeeq said besides implementing youth policy, another agenda would be to raise awareness of pollution factors that affect the social development process, thus affecting all segments of the society particularly youth. Therefore, in order to create awareness in this regard, a walk would be held on the day.

More than 500 students from different schools will participate in activities including poster competition on ‘Environmental Issues and Role of Youth’. Cash prizes would be given to the winners of the competitions.

Other activities to be carried out on this special day include tree plantation and an exhibition to recognise youth participation in sustainable development of the country.At present there are 54.2 million individuals in the age of 10 and 24, about 34 per cent of the country’s total population. By 2025, this age group will further contribute to the development of the country. WPF Programme Officer Mariam Jamal said the foundation had been working in the country since 1997 to harness youth potential and enhance their leadership qualities to expedite the social development process.

WPF and YAN, she said, aimed at mobilising them to enhance their leadership qualities by involving them in healthy activities and advocating for their rights.

YAN has encouraged youth networks to initiate joint efforts for a policy dialogue with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Planning Commission of Pakistan to discuss approaches for youth participation in their policy-making process and development programmes.

UN General Assembly in the year 1999 realised for the first time the high proportion of young people’s population all over the world and the fact that this group was never considered in the social and economic development of the countries.

Keeping this in view, a resolution was passed to endorse International Youth Day on December 17, 1999 and it was decided that the day will be celebrated every year on August 12 throughout the world.