KARACHI, Jan 26: The government has taken many decisions for the promotion of youth in the country and more such decisions would be taken soon.

This was stated by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Secretary General of the PML while addressing the three-day National Youth Conference opened here on Tuesday evening.

The event has been organized by the PML's youth wing. The PML leader agreed that youth needed more support and patronization by both the federal and provincial governments. Maximum opportunities would be created under various schemes to make them economically sound, he added.

The senator observed that it was youth who would make the PML stronger and provide it leadership in future. "This is why the current year has been declared the 'Year of Youth', he said.

He said the literature based on Pakistan's ideology, Fikr-i-Iqbal and ideas of the Quaid-i-Azam would be publicized under the auspices of the newly- established Allama Iqbal Forum, headed by senior Muslim Leaguer Azad Bin Haider. Youth summer camps would also be set up for the purpose, he added.

Mushahid Hussain stressed that the youth wing had to play an important role in the upcoming local bodies elections. "We have already taken the PML out of drawing rooms," he remarked, and pointed out that a public affairs wing of the party had also been set up.

He said that a complaint cell with free telephone and fax facilities would be made available to the party workers who would be able to convey to the central leadership any complaint, as well as reports about negligence on the part of government functionaries.

Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mohammad Yousuf suggested that the youth belonging to the PML be provided with overseas employment and accorded preference in government jobs.

Jam Yousuf, who is also president of the PML Balochistan, urged the central leadership to set parameters, including setting up a fund for PML youth. The provincial chapters of the party would follow suit, he added.

Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Resources Mir Naseer Mengal called for making PML youth's role more effective through moral and economic support. Sindh Minister for Revenue, Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh, who is the party's provincial secretary, proposed that government jobs be provided to PML youth only on merit.

Besides, he added, financial support through various schemes, including Baitul Maal and Zakat fund, be used for providing employment them jobs. He declared that people would not wait any more if the party did not provide them employment and economic relief. "Now it is time for the people to demand.'' Aleem Adil Shaikh and Iqbal Dar also called for extraordinary measures to contain frustration among the party workers, especially youth. -APP