ISLAMABAD, April 27: Over 40 members of the youth wings of nine political parties attended a four-day training programme this week on developing campaign skills aimed at increasing youth participation in the parliamentary elections to be held later this year.

It was third training programme organised by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) as part of its programme to strengthen youth participation in political affairs.

The parties that sent their youth wing members were Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League-N, Awami National Party, Balochistan National Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F, National Party and Muttahida Quami Movement.

NDI Country Director Sheila Fruman, political party consultant Kit Spence, Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education Zafarullah Khan, IT consultant Zeeshan Syed, and NDI Programme manager Emil Atanasovski, conducted various discussion forums and skill building exercises on campaigns and elections with the youth wing members over the 4-day training. Topics included how to develop a campaign plan and message, how to review the voters list for accuracy and membership data management.