This monitor is meant to identify major developments in the context of youth-related issues and policies in Pakistan. This study will help in identifying key trends and topics of interest among the youth of Pakistan and may also contribute towards removing certain hurdles that exist in the way of bringing forth pro-youth reforms.
Provincial Governments Announce Budget Allocations for Youth Affairs
The Punjab government has allocated Rs 8.83 billion for the Sports and Youth Affairs in its fiscal budget for 2022-23[1]
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs 16,895.136 million for Sports, Tourism, Archaeology and Youth Affairs[2].
The Government of Balochistan allocates Rs 350 million for Sports and Youth Affairs[3].
The Sindh Government allocates Rs. 4,604 million for Sports and Youth Affairs[4]
New Local Government Bill Approved by Punjab Cabinet with Enhanced Quota of Seats for Youth
Under the Punjab Local Government Act, 2022 bill, nine metropolitan corporations will be established in five large cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi and four divisional headquarters including Sargodha, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan.
The government will also establish 14 municipal corporations in rapidly-growing cities including Sheikhupura, Ferozewala, Jhang, Okara, Rahim Yar Khan, Kasur, Burewala, Chiniot, Hafizabad, Kamoke, Muzaffargarh, Jhelum, Muridke and Sadiqabad.The town administration will be restored in five major cities of Punjab including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Rawalpindi to ensure parity of basic municipal services across the city.
As many as 10 provincial departments will be devolved to district level including primary health, primary education, social welfare, family planning, sports, transport, civil defense, public health, arts and culture and tourism. Women will get 33 % representation in higher tiers of Local Governments while youth quotas have been enhanced to empower young people by reserving seats for youth[5].
National Amateur Short Film Festival 2022
Directorate of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting announced will be holding The National Amateur Short Film Festival (NASFF), 2022. The Festival envisions tapping the talent and creativity of Pakistani youth who choose Film and Television Production and Mass Media Communication as their academic/professional careers.[6]
Noor Zaman wins 29th Asian Junior Squash Championship Title
Noor Zaman of Pakistan, the grandson of legendary British Open Squash Champion Qamar Zaman, won 29th edition of the Asian Junior Squash Championship played at Pattaya, Thailand.
Noor Zaman, a promising squash star, entered the Asian Junior Squash Championship at second seeded, recorded victory against J. Chuah of Malaysia in a thrilling 3-1 battle that lasted for 52-minute[7].
Pakistan’s Usman Wazeer clinches WBA Asia Welterweight Title
Pakistan’s boxing champion Usman Wazeer clinched the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia welterweight title in the International Boxing Championship, held at Lalak Jan Stadium, Gilgit. Gilgit-Baltistan hosted the first-ever WBA tournament in a bid to promote the international sports in the region. Usman Wazeer (22-year-old) played the lead role in bringing the international tournament to the country. The ‘Asian Boy’ won the WBA title by knocking out Thailand’s PhatiphanKrungklang in the second round of the fight. After the victory, the boxing star extended his unbeaten record to 8-0 with five knockouts. Moreover, Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif Hazara won the ‘Super Flyweight’ title by beating Indonesian boxer Razi Akbar in the tenth round. A total of 10 fights were scheduled, with three being title fights, while the other seven were part of the international boxing rankings. The athletes from 10 countries, including Pakistan, Thailand, Afghanistan, UAE, Cameroon, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Nigeria and the Philippines took part in the international event[8].
Two-day Doping awareness seminar held in Lahore
The two-day Doping Awareness Seminar for Pakistan’s Commonwealth Games contingent concluded with the message of ‘Clean Sports and Zero Dope Policy’ at Nishtar Park Sports Complex E-Library under the auspices of Sports and Youth Affairs Department Punjab and Commonwealth Games Association (CGA) Pakistan in Lahore on June 12, 2022[9].
Secretary Youth Affairs Punjab Visited E-Rozgaar Center at LCWU Lahore
Secretary Youth Affairs & Sports Department, Mr. Asadullah Faiz along with Director Youth, Mr. Syed Umair Shah visited e-Rozgaar Center at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore. Secretary YAS and Vice-Chancellor LCWU Prof. Dr. Bushra Mirza discussed the transitions of the center working under e-Rozgaar Training Program and other related matters. Focal Person Dr. Shagufta Naz e-Rozgaar Center, Team from head office, and center teams including lab managers, trainers, and system network engineers also attended the meeting. After the meeting, delegates visited the center and took feedback from trainees.
National Youth Exchange Program Gilgit Baltistan in connection with 75th Anniversary ( Diamond Jubilee) of Pakistan independence
Mr. Muhammad Ishaque Jamali, Secretary Youth Affairs, Government of Balochistan in a video message spoke about the Youth exchange programme with the government of Gilgit Baltistan and vowed to continue the programme in the future[10].
Youth delegation from Balochistan visited Paigham-e-Pakistan Centre for Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction Studies, Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad
A delegation of Forty male and female Students from Balochistan visited the Paigham-e-Pakistan Centre for Peace, Reconciliation and Reconstruction Studies, Islamic Research Institute, International Islamic University, Islamabad on June 30, 2022. The delegation comprised of Faculty Members and forty male/female students of various universities of Balochistan such as Univeristy of Balochistan, Buitems, Ghulam Medical College, Quetta, Mir Chakar Khan Rind University, Sibi, University of Turbat and other Universities of Balochistan. The delegation was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq, Director General, IRI[11].
APS massacre survivor becomes Oxford debating society president (June 26, 2022)
Ahmad Nawaz, a survivor of the 2014 Army Public School (APS) massacre, has officially taken charge as the president of the Oxford University’s debating society Oxford Union[12]. He was praised by President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Mr. Shahbaz Sharif for his election. Ahmad wrote on twitter that he looked “forward to having world leaders debate the most pressing issues, empowering young people through his platform and upholding freedom of speech.”
Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs chairs the First meeting of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Mechanism on Youth Affairs
PILDAT with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Prime Minister’s Office organized the first meeting of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Mechanism on Youth Affairs. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja, MNA and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Youth Affairs. Speaking on the occasion, the SAPM said that the present government was dedicated to addressing the issues being faced by the youth of the country. Highlighting some of the initiatives that the present government was working on, she said that the laptop scheme was being relaunched. In addition, a youth portal is also to be launched providing the youth with an opportunity to resolve their issues through one window operation. A policy to create 2 Million Jobs is also in the pipeline, she said. Ms. Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized the need for coordinated efforts amongst the provinces and the two regions of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan under the guidelines provided by the Prime Minister’s Office to avoid duplication of efforts and better utilization of funds. She termed the Inter-Provincial Coordination Mechanism as a very effective forum for exchange of information and views amongst the provinces, regions and the PMO on Youth Affairs.
National Youth Commission Announced by the Finance Minister
Finance Minister Mr. Miftah Ismail on June 09, 2022 announced the establishment of a National Youth Commission (NYC) for empowering the young people through their socio-economic development. Presenting the Federal Budget for the Fiscal Year 2022-23 in the National Assembly, he said multiple new schemes for the youth would be launched this year. A comprehensive system would be introduced to enhance their participation in the development of the country, he added. He said over two million job opportunities would be created this year under the Youth Employment Policy. A scheme would be launched for providing interest-free loans amounting to Rs. 500,000 to the youth for promoting entrepreneurship culture in the country. The young people could also get soft loans of upto Rs. 25 million under the scheme, he said, adding 25 per cent quota was fixed for the women[13].
PM’s address at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
On the occasion of the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government held on June 25, 2022 in held in Rwanda, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in his virtual address expressed the resolve to take all such measures that could help in increasing digital transformation and promote literacy and skills of the Pakistani youth in all forms of education and learning.[14] The prime minister also announced that Pakistan would host the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting in Islamabad in January next year and invited the Commonwealth youth ministers to visit Pakistan and explore the beauty and diversity of our beautiful country.
References
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The Daily Dawn https://www.dawn.com/news/1695006/rs883bn-for-sports-youth-affairs accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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https://www.finance.gkp.pk/article/annual-budget-statement-2022-23 accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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https://pabalochistan.gov.pk/pab/pab/tables/alldocuments/verbatimdocx/2022-06-23_10:40:57_79b84.pdf accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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https://finance.gos.pk/Home/Download?path=Budget%2FBudgetBooks%2FFY-22-23%2FVOLUME_I%2FVOLUME-I-%202022-23.pdf accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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Imran Gabol, The Daily Dawn https://www.dawn.com/news/1696371/cabinet-approves-new-local-govt-bill accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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ISPR website https://ispr.gov.pk/nasff-guidelines-page.php accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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The Pakistan Observer https://pakobserver.net/noor-zaman-wins-29th-asian-junior-squash-championship-title/ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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The Nation https://nation.com.pk/2022/06/17/pakistans-usman-wazeer-clinches-wba-asia-welterweight-title/ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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The Nation https://nation.com.pk/2022/06/13/doping-awareness-seminar-for-pak-cwg-contingent-concludes/ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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Face Book Page https://www.facebook.com/DOYABQ/videos/1037567943546858/ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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Face Book Page https://www.facebook.com/DOYABQ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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The News https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/969549-aps-massacre-survivor-becomes-oxford-debating-society-president accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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APP https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/06/10/miftah-announces-establishment-of-national-youth-commission/ accessed on July 14, 2022 ↑
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Pakistan Today: https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/06/25/pm-pledges-to-equip-youth-with-modern-education-skills/ ↑