Speakers urge Sindh government to adopt Youth Policy

Speakers on Youth Dialogue demanded for Sindh government to adopt Youth Policy and increase specific budget for resolving issues of Youth in province as they can contribute for welfare of marginalized society. They were speaking on the occasion of Youth Dialogue "Youth Civic Engagement" held at SPO office on Wednesday which was organised by Sindh Community Foundation (SCF).
The dialogue was organized in connection to celebration of International Youth Day 2015 which is being observed across the World on August 12 alike every year. Chairman Hari Porihat Council, Punhal Sario said that there was no youth policy in Sindh province which was causing various issues and hindering Youth engagements in welfare of civic society. Besides, it is depriving them from various activities who were supposed to do for betterment of society in the province, he said.
It is unfortunate that the democratic government did not hold local bodies elections in the province where among others stakeholders, they could have played their role and in addition to that, it would have enhanced their grooming sufficient so they could have increased the confidence level enough to contest general elections of National and Provincial Assemblies, Sario said.
Despite being 65 per cent population of Youth in country, there is hardly 2 per cent representation in Assemblies of province and national level, he said. Such situation actually prevailed in reality and if it does continue, it would be difficult to bring real change in system which needed for many years for uplifting and developing living standards of marginalized people, Chairman said.
Chief Executive SCF, Javed Hussain said that United Nation (UN) had changed the theme for Youth-funded program during 2015 year and under this theme, UN's program are focusing on engaging of Youth in civic activities. It also urged that Youth should be given representation in parliament and local bodies' elections to play its role, he said. In the province, the cases of suicides cases is increasing day by day where majority of them committed suicide over the unemployment, he said adding it is alarming situation.
Besides, there is no major program for Youth in province and neither sufficient fund has been allocated for development of Youth and no Youth Policy is launched so far, Hussain said adding Draft of policy was finalised in 2012 but it did not include inputs of rural level leadership and its Youth.
President Awami Jamhoori Party, Ibrar Kazi said that Government had to develop proper Youth Policy for youth, if it wanted to see contribution of Youth in civic issues. Every party is alternative of government because it can put a pressure on the government to get the work done for betterment of people, when it avoids doing so, he said adding the only Politics is only way to resolve all social and political issues of any country.
Deputy Director South Asia Partnership, Irfan mufti said that no country could go ahead, if it did not ensure safety of people. Youth was seen to be involved in extremism and other activities of terrorism, he said adding only way to get rid of it and bring Youth to right track is to bring a change in system and involve them in civic activity.
Later, the resolution was adopted unanimously in which it was demanded from Sindh government to adopt Youth Policy after wide consultation at rural level and to increase the budget for development of Youth to 10 per cent which is currently less than 1 % percentage. A large number of people from different walk of life including students, representatives of civil society, political parties and other participated in the dialogue.