Ali is an excellent combination of perseverance and intelligence and he will effectively represent the interests, priorities and concerns of Pakistani youth as well as highlight a soft and positive image of Pakistan during the forthcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Developing also called Rio+20, to be hosted by Brazil in Rio on 20-22 June 2012, Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri remarked it during the press briefing during the celebrations of World Environment Day at SDPI here Tuesday.
Dr Suleri said fifteen years old student, Ali Shahbaz, will represent Pakistani youth as a part of Pakistan’s official delegation in the Rio+2 as SDPI’s Youth Ambassador. He said international community is coming together in Brazil to discuss sustainable development in context of multiplicity of challenge the globe faces today. Talking of nomination of Ali Shahbaz as SDPI Youth Ambassador, he said, he represents youth which is the overwhelming segment of country’s population and faces numerous challenges. Dr Suleri said Ali’s arguments, thoughts and ideas were so convincing and impressive that the SDPI and its partners decided to nominate him for Rio+20 to help raise the voice of our youth in front of international community. “Ali Shahbaz is a future leader and I hope his representation at such a global forum will help to flag a positive and soft image of Pakistan, its youth and its potential to the world community, he added.
Ambassador (R) Shafqat Kakakhel, Former Deputy-Executive-Director, UNEP and Member Board of Governors, SDPI briefed the media on Rio+20 conference, SDPI preparation for the conference and nomination of Ali Shahbaz as part of Pakistan’s official delegation in Rio+20. He said , the objective of Rio+20 conference is to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assess the progress to date and the remaining gaps in implementation of the outcomes of the major Summits on sustainable development. He informed that Rio+20 conference underscores on the participation of all stakeholders in negotiations including  women and youth adding that a large number of youth delegates are participating in Rio+20 from across the world.  He said, SDPI have nominated Ali to represent youth in Rio+20 to represent Pakistani youth in international negotiations.  “Pakistan’s future is in youth’s hand, if this youth is given due priority and value in national affairs then Pakistan can become a prosperous and progressive country, otherwise the challenges we face will get further worsened” he went on saying.
Ali Shahbaz thanked Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) for giving him opportunity to represent Pakistan as an official delegate at Rio+20.  He said, with this opportunity new era of empowerment has begun. “I promise you all of giving Pakistan a positive face and doing justice in highlighting the issues of youth while making full use of such a global opportunity of interacting with international community discussing globe’s sustainable future”, he added.
Ejaz Haider of SDPI said Ali has an excellent combination of perseverance and intelligence. “I hope he would effectively represent youth of Pakistan and the true image of the country to international community” he added. During the question-answer session, participants were informed that  Rio+20  conference will attract more than 50 thousand delegates including over 10 thousands governmental delegations from across globe. It was told that thousands of side events have been planned by the involvement of representatives of over 195 countries. Pakistan is also holding its event on ‘achieving sustainable development in state of crisis’.  Participants hoped that Ali Shahbaz will effectively represent issues, preferences and interests of Pakistan’s besides interaction with the youth of global community and its replication of global learning in Pakistan.