Minister of State for Culture, Youth Affairs, and Minorities Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani has said that government would announce a new comprehensive youth policy on December 25, 2004 and would confer "Jinnah Youth Award" on 30 young men who stood alongside the Quaid-e-Azam during freedom movement.
Speaking at a news conference here on Wednesday the minister said that government has declared 2005 as the year of youth and special youth festivals would be held throughout the year.
He said that on the special directives of the President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, optimal involvement of youth in nation building would be ensured in the new policy.
He said that the youth who played outstanding role in Pakistan movement and after 1947 would be awarded. "Fifteen awards would be given to the well-known patriot youth of Pakistan movement while 15 awards to those who have served tremendously in the nation building ", the minister added.
Durrani further said that four youth festivals would be held in each provincial capital while one in the federal capital on January 8, 2005.
He said that a committee comprising scientists, scholars, journalists and educationists would decide the names for the Jinnah Youth Awards.
He said that "Jinnah Youth Award" would also carry the element of entertainment with galaxy of stars that would perform in a show portraying the tradition and cultural heritage of Pakistan.
The minister disclosed that Tricom Entertainment Private Limited are the organisers of Jinnah Youth Awards and would be executing these festivals on the basis of self-financing.
"Patriot youth from all over Pakistan shall be invited to participate in the Jinnah Youth Awards and it will be televised on PTV during the last week of January 2005," he added.