National Youth Policy having best possible job opportunities for youth with comprehensive strategy for their involvement in sports, culture, and other fields will be announced on December 25 with one - year special action plan for youth development. This was stated by Minister of State for Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani while talking to Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Mrs Sylvi Graham, who called on him here at his office.
The Ambassador of Norway to Pakistan, Jenis Bjorn Kanavin, Political Advisor David Hansan and other officials of the embassy and Federal Culture, Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Jalil Abbas were also present on this occasion.
Highlighting the salient features of the National Youth Policy Durrani said the main focus will be on improving the role of youth in sports and cultural activities.
The minister said, at present, there is more than 40 percent youth in Pakistan, and they need special attention by the government, adding the government is also planning programmes to impart training to youth for setting up small business to make them more productive for their families and the country.
Durrani said 'youth television' will also be launched to provide a channel to the youth to project their talent and skill in a positive way, adding the government has decided to celebrate 2005 as 'Youth Year' for better interaction of the youth to constructive activities.
Appreciating the help and co-operation extended by Norway to Pakistan for youth culture and sports activities, the minister hoped that this co-operation would provide a chance for better facilities to the youth.
He said young parliamentarians, who are about 50 percent, would also be engaged to have better interaction with the youth specially at the grassroots level to provide best possible facilitates to them.
The minister said youth has the potential and with the vision of 'enlightened moderation' they could be very useful for the country.
He said employment issue for the youth would be highlighted in the national youth policy and new development projects would be announced to provide jobs to youth, adding that skill training for youth will be an important part of the policy so that Pakistan could export trained manpower to other countries.
He said available infrastructure would be used with full involvement of the private sector to provide maximum job opportunities to the youth after providing them skill training.
He also thanked the Norway government to provide financial assistance for preserving Pakistan's heritage like Lahore Fort and other important buildings.
Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mrs Sylvi Graham assured the minister to continue full support and assistance to Pakistan for providing best possible facilities to youth.
The minister, who is on her first visit to Pakistan, said both countries have good and friendly relations. She said these relations would be further promoted in the fields of culture, sports and youth affairs.
The Norwegian minister, who also signed an agreement to provide Rs 4 million to Pakistan to promote various facilities for youth, said the role of economic and technical assistance to youth is very important.
Referring to successful experience of Norway for interaction of youth in culture and sports, she said Pakistan could get benefit from this experience to improve facilities for youth.
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