International Youth Day is being celebrated on Friday (today) all over the world including Pakistan. The International Youth Day is observed every year on August 12 to recognise efforts of the world's youth in enhancing global society and their positive contributions to their communities.
Experts believe that proper utilisation of the youth potential could steer the world out of crisis. The world was facing multiple problems with severe and far-reaching impacts that fall disproportionately on the youth and the need of the hour is to protect our most valuable resource, and give young people a fair and full stake in our society, and in its success.
The UN defines the worlds' youth as the age group between 15 and 24 years old, making up one-sixth of the human population. Many of these young men and women live in developing countries and their numbers are expected to rise. Pakistan is fortunate country where 43% of population is comprised of youth, which is very important for the development of the country. International Youth Day was first observed in 2000. The idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 by young people who were gathered in Vienna, Austria, for the first session of the UN's World Youth Forum. In 1998 a resolution proclaiming August 12 as International Youth Day was adopted during the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth.