Lahore, November 23, 2024 – The fifth session of the 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan®-YPP was successfully convened by PILDAT at the Old Hall of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. The two sittings focused at empowering youth to become active champions of peace and resilience, amplifying their voices in shaping a more tolerant and inclusive Pakistan. Around 75 members of the YPP attended the session in person while more than 100 joined online. They represented all National Assembly constituencies of Pakistan, in addition to Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Overseas Pakistanis.

This session marks a significant milestone of project- CPTP, Countering And Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan. Funded by EU, led by NACTA and executed by UNODC with its partner civil society organization, PILDAT. The project aims at empowering community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence via a three-pronged strategy. The key strategy/components include: a. strengthen the capacity of criminal justice institutions; b. strengthen victim support through an effective legal system; c. foster community engagement via developing sustainable networks.

The Youth Parliament Pakistan® – YPP, PILDAT’s flagship initiative launched in 2005, stands as a testament to the transformative power of youth engagement in policymaking and democratic development. Over its 18 iterations, YPP has empowered over 2,000 young leaders to actively participate in shaping Pakistan’s future. Its members have not only excelled in diverse fields, including politics, governance, civil services, and academia, but have also made significant contributions to policymaking. Noteworthy achievements include presenting a review of the draft National Education Policy to the Federal Cabinet in 2009, drafting youth-led policy proposals through standing committees, and engaging directly with Pakistan’s key policymakers and thought leaders.

The fifth session was inaugurated on November 22^nd by the Honourable Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, who welcomed the members of YPP to the august House. In his keynote address, he discussed the important role of youth in preventing violent extremism and lamented the detrimental psychological effects of terrorism on young people. He stated that engagement with the youth is immensely important to him as Pakistan’s population comprises of more than 60% youth, and the future of the country depends on how we manage the ‘Youth Bulge’.

Prior to the commencement of the session, the Members of YPP also took part in a comprehensive study visit to the neighbouring new building of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab for firsthand exposure to the legislative processes in Pakistan. These interactions aided citizen-state engagement which is key to preventing alienation amongst vulnerable youth.

The 5^th session of the YPP also featured Ms. Mahreen Maqsood, Director PVE at NACTA, who gave a presentation on “How to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) in Pakistan?” emphasising the myths and common perception that revolve around the topic. She  discussed different types of violence, including direct, structural and cultural violent extremism. She emphasized the role of civil society and youth in tackling this complex issue, emphasizing that young people should play their part through social campaigns and by creating awareness in society.

On November 23^rd, the second sitting of the fifth session commenced with a policy dialogue where prominent legislators Ms. Sonia Ashir, MPA and Parliamentary Secretary, Human Rights & Minorities Affairs, Chaudhry Javed Ahmed, MPA, and Ms. Faiza Ahmad Malik, former MPA, engaged with MYPs on the need for PVE policies at a national and provincial level. They identified a wide range of public policy areas, including education, inequality, and civil rights, that must be covered in a PVE policy. Discussion particularly focused on curriculum development, minority rights and the balance of power amongst institutions. MYPs questioned the legislators regarding Student Unions, population control, resource scarcity and extremism incidents currently happening in KP and Balochistan.

The session then continued with a parliamentary style debate on the role of youth in preventing violent extremism in Pakistan. This debate allowed MYPs to share their views and diverse range of experiences across constituencies. They also made suggestions on how to effectively involve young people in national efforts for peace.

Overall, the fifth session of the 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan® was a successful effort in engaging young people in thinking critically about policymaking for preventing violent extremism in Pakistan. The exposure and knowledge gained from the two-day session will guide the MYPs’ future tasks as they work to make sure their voices are heard for a peaceful and inclusive Pakistan.