Federal Minister for Women Development and Youth Affairs Sumaira Malik on Wednesday called for arranging extensive interactive activities for Muslim youth to promote harmony in the Ummah. She was addressing a ministerial committee of the First Islamic conference of Youth and Sports Ministers in Saudi Arabia.
She said that Pakistan, an ardent supporter of the idea of regular gatherings of Muslim youth, would host the second general assembly of the Islamic Conference Youth Forum in September or October this year.
Next year, Pakistan would host the 'First Ummah Youth Festival' as part of the efforts to enhance understanding among youth of member states of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), she said.
"Youth are the most important resource and nucleus of socio-economic as well as socio-political changes at every juncture of history. So it is imperative to equip the youth to meet challenges of the future," she said.
Enumerating Pakistan government's steps for youth welfare, she said that a comprehensive training programme would be launched for the youth to prepare them for leadership roles for the country's development.
She said that career counselling centre would be established in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, Quaid-e-Azam University and Allama Iqbal Open University to provide the youth with information about career opportunities.
A Youth Award Scheme will also be initiated to encourage talent in the diverse fields including science, information technology, business, medicine, sports, art, social work, and volunteer work, on the eve of International Youth Day on August 12, the minister added.