ISLAMABAD, Nov 23: As part of the ongoing peace process between Pakistan and India, a 30-member delegation of youths left here on Tuesday for India to promote exchanges and travel of youths between the two countries as well as in the South Asian region.

Under the "Youth Hostelling for Peace" programme launched by the Unesco and International Youth Hostels Federation, the delegation will visit New Delhi, Agra, Ajmer and Jaipur, according to a PYHA statement here today.

The youth and youth leaders exchange programme between India and Pakistan was launched in April 2003 when Unesco decided to seek IYHF's help and its 6,000 affiliated hostels to utilize them as centres for promoting peace across the world.

The team, led by Pakistan Youth Hostels Association vice-chairman Dr Anwar Siddiqi and the national Secretary Agha Afzaal Hussain, consists of educationists, former diplomats and government officials, women social workers and youth leaders.

The team members have been selected from across the country where PYHA owns and operates 18 youth hostels. The Pakistan Youth Hostels Association, which was established in 1952 as a trust, provides accommodation at nominal cost, and serving the youth as well as people from abroad, the statement says.

It is affiliated with the London-based International Youth Hostels Federation (IYHF) - a voluntary organization with 6,000 hostels across the world. Dr Haresh Saxina, is the current President of the International Youth Hostels Federation.

Dr Saxina, a professor at New Delhi University, also had led to Pakistan a 30-member youth delegation from India in April this year, to which PYHA had played as the host.

Various functions, training courses and seminars are arranged in different countries under this programme, utilizing youth hostels. Unesco and International Youth Hostels Federation will also launch these programmes, to promote peace, in Pakistan next year.

South Korea hosted a global youth rally and convention in June this year, under the Unesco-led peace programme, where youth leaders and youth, including those from Pakistan, participated. The delegation will return on December 2.