Islamabad, Jan 27: Pakistan is hosting the four-day Commonwealth Asia Youth Summit and Asia Regional Youth Ministers’ Meeting in Islamabad from January 27 to January 31, 2025. The event, themed “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, and Transforming,” brings together youth leaders and policymakers from across the region to foster dialogue and collaboration on key issues affecting young people.
The highlight of the summit will be the oath-taking ceremony on January 28, where the Prime Minister will formally induct youth members into the newly established Prime Minister’s National Youth Council. This council, announced on December 18, 2024, comprises 100 exceptional youth members from within Pakistan and 13 from abroad, along with nine government officials, with the Prime Minister serving as the patron-in-chief.
Among the notable members is 19-year-old Ali Khawaja, a young overseas Pakistani and founder of Busybrains, a startup dedicated to neurodiversity care. Khawaja has been appointed as a representative of the council, bridging the gap between Pakistani youth and their counterparts in the United Kingdom. He aims to foster collaboration between youth-led civil society and public and private sectors in both countries.
The National Youth Council aims to advance Pakistan’s pro-youth development agenda under the National Youth Development Framework. It seeks to empower young people by ensuring their meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes across all levels of government. Members like Ali Hamza are committed to driving initiatives that address challenges faced by the youth and promoting their active participation in shaping policies.
The summit not only highlights Pakistan’s commitment to empowering its young population but also serves as a platform for regional collaboration on innovative and transformative youth policies. With youth representing a significant portion of the population, this event underscores the government’s efforts to harness their potential and create opportunities for them to lead and contribute to national and global progress. The participation of youth leaders from across Asia ensures that the discussions will have a broader regional impact, promoting shared learning and cooperation.
