Under the guidance of Leila Khan Chairperson Prime Minister's Youth Program, a 62-member delegation of Pakistani youth is participating for the first time in the 19th World Festival of Youth and Students 2017 in Sochi, Russia from 14-22 October.
According to Abdul Rashid Shakir public relations officer PM's Youth Programme, the Pakistani delegation comprises of 62 young leaders in media, technology, entrepreneurship, politics, civil society, health and environment, and education. It also includes national performing arts group of the Pakistan National Council of Arts, and a Lok Virsa exhibition team to perform and showcase Pakistan's rich national culture and traditional heritage at the Festival.
The Festival is organized by its founder, the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the National Preparatory Committee of the host country. The 2017 Festival, hosted by the Russian Federation, marks the 70th anniversary of the event which was first held in Prague in 1947. More than 20,000 energetic and engaged young people from more than 120 countries across the globe would get together for developing intercultural cooperation and strengthening international ties.
The Festival programme consists of discussion programmes, panel discussions, and a series of scientific and educational events. These include lectures, conferences, master classes and workshops on the topics like architecture and design, global politics, international security, technologies of the future, environment and health, the future of science and global education, economics for future development, global culture, civil development platform, industries of the future, aviation of the future, the global rail network, and new media trends and landscape. The Festival would also feature in national and international cultural performances, exhibitions, and sporting events.
The 2017 Festival will begin at the International student parade in Moscow on 14 October, preceded by The International Ministerial Meeting of Ministries, Secretaries and Head Departments responsible for national youth policy on 12 October in Moscow.