ISLAMABAD, Aug 2: The Planning Commission (PC) in collaboration with UNDP organised a documentary competition to initiate a process of engaging youth in public policy making and to empower them through voice, opportunities and education.

The competition was titled ‘Youth Idea Challenge’ and documentaries were prepared at the Planning Commission and approved by the National Economic Council (NEC).

The entries are based on one or more of the following themes: our cities, knowledge and productivity, social networking, youth entrepreneurship and market reforms.

Nineteen documentaries received under the competition were screened at a ceremony here on Tuesday and later prizes were distributed among the winners. The students were divided into two age groups; first category included students between 13-19 years and the second between 20 and 25 years.

Those who won prizes from first category were Mohammad Aleem Ansari of Generation School, Karachi, Sabeeh Ahmad, Haider Ali and Bilal Shakeel from Beaconhouse Garden Town, Lahore and Syed Faizan Raza Rizvi from Roots School System, Islamabad. The winners of the second category were Wajahat Ahmad from Bahria University, Islamabad, Syed Ahmed Faran, Ehsan Gul, Mohsin Gul and M.A. Jamil from Nust, Islamabad.

Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Dr Nadeemul Haque said: “Economic policy is broader than the usual fiscal policy. We have to learn from the global knowledge pool. Economic policy is creative way of countering the risks. The idea of ‘Youth Idea Challenge’ was to include youth in our new economic strategy”.—Our Reporter