Sindh's first-every youth policy announced

Sindh Youth Minister Abid Hussain Bhayo has announced that under the Sindh Youth Policy, a Youth Development Commission and a Youth Venture Capital Fund will be established by the government. "Student Unions will be revived and remodelled to promote pro-peace, women-friendly and student-cantered activities on campus. Five percent seats will also be reserved for young people in local bodies," he said.
Launching the Sindh's first-every youth policy, he said that under the policy, youth will be engaged in decision-making at the municipal and provincial levels while community-service and volunteerism will be promoted. "Through youth-led campaigns, inter-faith harmony will be encouraged," he added.
Youth Affairs Department Secretary Dr Niaz Ali Abbasi announced the establishment of the Government of Sindh e-Rozgar scheme, which will provide job opportunities to youth without formal education and said the Sindh Youth Policy is result of a province-wide consultative process involving multiple stakeholders and most importantly youth. "Efforts will be made to encourage youth entrepreneurship through trainings at incubation centres, market linkages and partnership with educational institutions," he added.
Bargad Executive Director Sabiha Shaheen congratulated Sindhi youth for being given a comprehensive framework aimed at their social, economic and political empowerment. "From 2012 to 2015, over 5,000 youth participated in the consultative process. The policy, devised in light of suggestions and needs of Sindh's youth includes a clear roadmap, time-bound strategies, quantified targets and potential partners," she said. Oxfam Country Director Mohammed Qazilbash said that harnessing the energy and strength of young women and men to become active citizens is core to Oxfam's goal of transformational change.
"Young people in Sindh face multiple forms of inequality and grapple with challenges inherited from previous generations. This policy ensures youth have the necessary skills and opportunities to define the future for themselves and their province," he said. Dr Kaiser Bengali, economist and Dean SZABIST shared, "It is important to know where we want to go. For this it is important to know which us to take. A policy tells us which bus to take and where we want to go. Sindh Government and Bargad deserve credit for formulating the Sindh Youth Policy."
RHRN National Coordinator Faisal Shabbir applauded the Sindh Youth Policy for envisioning, supporting and enabling a positive policy environment for adolescents. "I hope the policy will make way for provision of adolescent and youth friendly health services in primary health care system and will initiate youth-led campaigns to promote youth health and their rights," he said. Noor Muhammad Bajeer, Chief Executive Officer of Civil Society Program (CSSP) expressed hope that the Policy will bridge the urban-rural divide by initiation of collective youth actions of the youth of Sindh and has opened many avenues for youth of far flung areas of the province. He appreciated that the government plans to promote active citizenship, volunteerism and respect for rule of law among youth.