Youth asked to lend a helping hand to IDPs

[Naveed Yaseen]

Myra Imran
Speakers at a seminar here on Wednesday urged youth to lend a helping hand to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) and work as a unified force to take the country out of the prevailing economic and political crisis.

The seminar was organised by the women’s wing of International Islamic University, Islamabad (IIU).

Titled ‘Pakistan in the 21st Century: The Role of Youth’, it was attended by faculty members and a large number of enthusiastic students.

The speakers introduced the participants to the existing challenges faced by youth in the

21st century and the approach required to solve the present

political and economic problems.

They said that youth are the biggest asset of a nation, for they hold the future in their hands.

Highlighting the issues faced by youth, they said that one of the biggest issues is the negative image of the country internationally.

“It is up to our youth to prove the international community wrong through their talent and conduct,” they said.

In the coming 30 to 40 years, they said that majority of the country’s population would be young and would only be able to contribute towards the country’s development if their energies are utilised positively.

Director Female Campus IIUI Perveen Qadir Agha was the chief guest on the occasion while those who spoke included a faculty member of Fatima Jinnah Women University Sadia Panni, Zahida Perveen of IIUI, representative of the Education Department Nadia Asif, and Maria Saeed, a student of IIUI.

In her inspiring speech on the topic of ‘Youth Capacities for Good Governance and Rule of Law,’ Zahida Perveen said that more than 50 per cent of the population comprises youth but unfortunately, the government is unable to provide them proper engagements to utilise their capabilities to the fullest.

She called for looking at gaps within our social value system and start working on strengthening the institutions and not personalities.

“We are the informed generation and have the responsibility to bring positive change in our surroundings,” she said.

Highlighting the ingredients of citizenship vital for the development of a society, Sadia Panni said the young lot should work as a unified force to counter the problems faced by the country these days.

“We are passing through a difficult time and youth are the only hope, who can take the country out of the prevalent crisis,” she added.

Terming student unions as the nurseries of future leaders,

Panni said in addition to serving their political agendas, such unions are also responsible to provide healthy activities for students.

She said the most recent crisis faced by the nation is that of the internally displaced persons and youth should come forward to help their brothers and sisters in need.

Appreciating the efforts of students, Perveen Agha said there is a need to organise more such activities to motivate youth for participating in the development of the country.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=178770