ISLAMABAD: Speakers on Wednesday underscored the vital role of youth in shaping the future of Pakistan, highlighting the immense potential that young individuals hold and the critical need for targeted skill development initiatives to enhance community growth.
The speakers at the session, titled ‘Opportunities and Challenges for Today’s Youth and Future Human Capital’, emphasised that empowering the youth through social protection measures was essential for fostering resilience and enabling meaningful contributions to the nation's economy.
The event was held under the Sustainable Development Conference (SDC) organised by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in collaboration with the climate change ministry.
The panelists included Abdullah Fadil from Unicef, Bilal Anwar from NDRMF, Rabia Awan (PBS), Cindy Kushner (Unicef), Nicolai Dellmann (Giz), Jahanzaib Sohail (TWB), Bilal Abbasi (ignite), Dr Safdar Sohail (SPRC) and Dr Lubna (IBA).
They said as Pakistan aimed for significant advancements by 2047, the insights shared during the discussion reflect a strategic approach to leveraging the potential of its youth for sustainable development.
Abdullah Fadil emphasised that Pakistan must consolidate its resources, noting that while the country was founded on a specific ideology, it must now prioritise justice and equality.
He said the youth of Pakistan felt disillusioned due to policymakers' ineffective resource management.
He highlighted the lack of social mobility in various regions of the country as a significant challenge.
To address these issues, Mr Fadil advocated for a focus on population growth, health, education and climate change to build resilience in Pakistan.
Bilal Anwar said failing to correct our course could lead to significant repercussions.
He noted that 100 million young people were currently lacking direction.
“We do not possess adequate resources to invest in them. It is crucial to effectively engage this youth demographic, but the question remains: how can we achieve this? We must engage in discussions and formulate effective policies that provide them with a sense of ownership,” he said.
Rabia Anwar said Pakistan was experiencing a significant population growth rate.
She said the youth required skills, yet there was currently no policy in place to address future needs.
By 2024, our population is projected to reach 480 million. If we fail to engage our youth, there is a risk that they may turn to criminal activities. Therefore, it is essential to prioritise education, Ms Anwar said.
Jahanzaib Sohail stated that while Pakistan was experiencing natural disasters, there had been insufficient focus on mental health.
He emphasised the crucial role of technology in addressing these issues, highlighting the importance of investing in primary education, healthcare and climate change.
Nicolai Dellmann said Pakistan had a rich history of civilisations, and “we are investing in initiatives to enhance community development”.
“The private sector plays a crucial role during times of crisis. While Pakistan is abundant in green resources, it is not effectively leveraging its human and natural resources,” Nicolai Dellman said, adding that there is a need for Pakistan to focus on developing human resources, supporting local communities, and fostering entrepreneurship to transform into a significant market.
Dr Safdar Sohail emphasised the need for Pakistan to prioritise a social market economy.
He noted that while the country was concentrating on family, religion and social status, it had not adequately recognised the role of youth in society.
He pointed out that our social programmes tend to emphasise the distribution of incentives rather than providing protection.
Dr Sohail expressed disappointment that there were no initiatives in Islamabad, aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities, highlighting the lack of incentivised programmes for this group as a significant oversight.
