Youth leaders push for AI-driven public services, stronger cybersecurity

Youth leaders and experts at a consultation session on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) Summit, called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in public-sector services, and urged the government to review cybersecurity policies, ensuring that people can file complaints without fear or unnecessary obstacles.

The participants emphasized the need for strong public-private partnerships to implement the National Adolescent and Youth Policy effectively. The high-level consultation, organized in collaboration with UNICEF, brought together national and international youth delegates to discuss governance, digital safety, and public engagement challenges.

Addressing the session, Member of Punjab Assembly Amina Hassan Sheikh encouraged young people to actively engage in the political process. “You need to follow structured career paths, gain professional experience, and excel in your fields before stepping into parliament and contributing to legislation,” she said. She highlighted the efforts to build capacity among organizations and leverage modern technology to tackle cybercrime.

She underscored the importance of bridging the gap between the public and government institutions, stressing that restoring public trust remains a key priority. She urged young people to raise awareness about harassment issues, emphasizing the need to create a safe environment for victims to report cases without hesitation.

Youth leader Azra Khan advocated for a comprehensive framework to protect vulnerable communities, while Alishba Khan stressed the importance of responsible social media usage among young people. Members of the Youth Council actively contributed ideas to shape youth-friendly policies, reinforcing a collective commitment to empowering young voices in governance and policymaking.

Experts, youth leaders for urgent action on unemployment, entrepreneurship

A high-level roundtable discussion – hosted in collaboration with the UN Development Program (UNDP) under the theme youth employment and entrepreneurship – emphasized the need for urgent action to tackle youth unemployment, with experts and youth leaders advocating for stronger public-private partnerships to drive job creation and startup support.

The participants stressed that investing in youth-led enterprises could be a game-changer for economic growth and innovation in the region. Habib Bank Limited’s Development Financing head Adnan Pasha underscored importance of equipping young people with the right skills and resources to secure jobs and launch businesses. He highlighted need for policy reforms, greater access to financing for young entrepreneurs, and digital upskilling programs to prepare youth for an evolving job market.

Echoing this sentiment, UNDP Pakistan’s Deputy Resident Representative Van Nguyen outlined key policy measures to support youth entrepreneurship, including simplified business registration, seed funding access, mentorship programs, targeted tax breaks, and skills development initiatives. Vlektra CEO Syed Raza Mohsin stressed the importance of aligning education and training with industry needs.

He called for stronger collaboration between businesses, educational institutions, and policymakers to ensure that curricula reflect emerging trends in technology, green energy, and creative industries. “Hands-on experience, integration of soft skills, and lifelong learning must be prioritized to keep pace with rapid advancements and evolving job market demands,” he added.

Youth representatives at the discussion shed light on the difficulties they face in entering the workforce and securing funding for startups. They emphasized the need for a more supportive ecosystem that fosters innovation and provides equal opportunities for young entrepreneurs. In response, the panel assured them of ongoing and upcoming initiatives aimed at creating an enabling environment for youth-led businesses.

CAYA’s ministerial meeting stresses more cooperation in empowering youth

Prime Minister Youth Program (PMYP) Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan thanked distinguished guests for participating in the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance Summit in Islamabad. Presiding over a meeting of Inter-Ministerial members, he emphasized the need to explore more opportunities in education, climate change and skill development programs.

A report was presented on youth-related initiatives by various countries while the Commonwealth Youth Council report was also presented during the CAYA’s ministerial meeting. They also discussed various specific initiatives, implementation plans, enhancing capacity of youth and their role in the national economy. On the occasion, the foreign delegates stressed the need to promote cooperation and connectivity in culture, policymaking and other key areas at the regional level.

Layne Robinson sensitize young leaders, introduces key approaches

A capacity building session was held to sensitize the international young leaders and National Youth Council members about youth work. The session was led by head of Commonwealth Secretariat delegation Layne Robinson at the Jinnah Convention Center to highlight significance of youth engagement and development.

The event began with an interactive activity where participants, divided into groups, answered questions about the Commonwealth’s history, geography, and structure. Layne Robinson introduced key youth development approaches, including deficit-based, youth-for-development, equity and welfare, and asset-based empowerment models. He defined youth work as all forms of rights-based engagement that build personal awareness and support social, political, and economic empowerment.

He gave a historical overview of youth work from the 1970s to the present, discussing ongoing challenges such as: lack of formal recognition as a profession, limited qualification pathways, insufficient supervision of youth work practice, and inadequate investment in youth services. Layne Robinson outlined the Commonwealth’s achievements, including training over 14,000 youth workers, establishing youth ministries and networks, and developing frameworks to measure youth development progress.

He also introduced the Qawya Board of Trustees for 2024-26 and upcoming youth work initiatives. The session concluded with a rapid-fire Question & Answer, keeping participants engaged until the end. He praised Pakistan’s role in the Commonwealth’s youth initiatives, calling the CAYA Youth Summit 2025 a significant step in regional collaboration. He said that Pakistan was not only hosting the Commonwealth Asia Regional Secretariat but also bringing together ministers to advance youth mentor ship.

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) hosted a dinner in honor of the foreign delegates. The event brought together educational professionals, media representatives, and youth leaders from across Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan expressed gratitude to both CAYA and non-CAYA delegates for their participation.

He highlighted PMYP’s collaborative efforts with the HEC to implement various capacity-building projects for the youth, stating the future leaders will be ready to take the reins of the country in the near future. HEC Chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmad also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the commission’s role in shaping future generations through education.

He highlighted HEC’s initiatives to equip Pakistani youth with essential skills, stating that around six million students were currently pursuing education in 269 public and private sector universities across the country. He said that the government was committed to providing state-of-the-art educational facilities to students and encouraged CAYA member countries to collaborate, particularly in the field of education, to unlock new opportunities for the youth.

Two transgenders join third batch of 113-member National Youth Council

The CAYA Summit kicked off at the Jinnah Convention Center, focusing on youth empowerment, education, and skills development. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was the chief guest of the inaugural session. Speaking at the event, the PMYP chairman congratulated 113 new members of the third batch of the National Youth Council (NYC).

He shared that 49 boys, 49 girls, two transgenders and 13 candidates from overseas diaspora were selected through interviews conducted by a panel of professionals and leaders. To promote the rich heritage and scenic beauty of the country, a video on Pakistan’s tourism potential was showcased in the event, captivating the audience with stunning visuals of the nation’s diverse landscapes.

A video message from Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland was also played, who acknowledged the government’s strides in youth development and its significant contributions to the Commonwealth community. Earlier, the prime minister administered the oath to the members of third batch of the National Youth Council and gave away awards to the high achievers.

MilKar volunteer network also bagged the Youth Excellence Award at the CAYA Summit. The prime minister conferred the award to Ali Saif, the youngest member of the National Youth Council and MilKar Impact Head and Founder of Climate Dost. The youngest environmental champion said that youth need to do the most work for climate change.

He highlighted that youth had planted more than 100,000 trees and distributed 100,000 masks during smog crisis. He said that he himself was an eco-friendly youth, and recently the organization installed a large number of bird feeders. “I would like to request all the people to also become eco-friendly.” He said that MilKar plans to install bird feeders in many parts of the country by 2030.