Youth is the future of every country. Young people are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovations.
The period of life which youth represent is most productive and useful by virtue of the nascent energies they are endowed with by nature.
The young people aspire for full participation in the life of a society. If appropriate opportunities are made available to put their natural endowment to creative, productive and useful channels, youth is indeed capable of working miracles.
The population of youth between the age of 15-29 years which is the defined age for the youth in Pakistan, is estimated to be 25 percent of the total population of our country.
Youth have played an acknowledged role in the creation of Pakistan. They continue to be vibrant and active and eager to contribute their role in the progress and prosperity of the nation.
Comprising one fourth of the total population, they are imbibed with ambition, enthusiasm and commitment. Recently the youth have been given the right to vote and the age limit has been brought down to 18 years. This has brought them in the mainstream at politics and they have to be equipped with necessary knowledge and guidance to be able to play their due part in national life. They are, however, confronted with multi-dimensional socio-economic problems as well.
The grave problems confronted by youth, are un-employment, inadequate access to basic education and high percentage of illiteracy; campus indiscipline; exploitation by anti-social elements, lack of vocational training opportunities; decline of moral values; increasing violence; ill-health and un-satisfactory hygienic living conditions, lack of recreational facilities; drug abuse; degradation of environment; population growth; and lack of guidance.
A gender-sensitive approach to be taken includes the adoption of a gender policy. It aims to ensure balanced attendance, participation and contributions by both young women and men in all aspects of the forum.
The print and electronic media can present the most compelling reasons for promoting media literacy education in contemporary society. The principles and practices of media literacy education are applicable to all media from television to T-shirts from billboards to the Internet.
Last week the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) organised a seminar on "Investment in youths development crucial for intergenerational gains later". The seminar to mark the United Nations International Youth Day, choosing this year's theme "Youth in an Intergenerational Society". The UN wants to stress the importance of solidarity between generations at all levels - in families, communities and nations.
In future, the interdependence of younger and older people will increase. Youth development is a prerequisite to meeting the growing care demands of older people and a condition for the development of society as a whole.
The participants of the seminar were Qamar Mansoor, Minister for Culture and Youth Affairs, Sports. Ms. Fauzia Matloob, Project Manager, PAVHNA, Mrs. Nuzhat Williams, President, Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Ms. Sheher Bano, supplementary editor, The News, Karachi. Usman Panhwar, Secretary, Youth and Culture, Sindh Graduates Association, Samina Ishaq PPF Director presided over the seminar.
They participants emphasised the importance of youth education especially, the young women and girls with the capacity and skills development through education, support and freedom from all forms of discrimination.
The world can be changed in order to offer a better future for everyone. "Men and women both are valuable at all levels. If not, how can we truly have the dialogue that is necessary for the development of all people"?
"Young people must be recognised not only as future leaders, but as actors of society of today, with a direct stake in the development process".
There is a strong need to address these issues to successfully harness the full potential of the youth for progress and growth of the nation.
Formulatoin of youth policy is necessary for addressing the challenges and potential of young people and influencing the social, cultural and economic conditions.