Youth is an energetic state of mind and not just an age related phenomenon. Power lies in education where with power of pen, one can never be oppressed and tyrannized. Democracy is the best system that Pakistan can ever have and it warrants equal citizenry. By harnessing their potential, youth can not only achieve goals critical to their personal growth but also communal and national development. As future leaders, youth should not only have a vision of a bright future but also take others on board for shared goals of development and prosperity and show them that vision’s brightness. While it is important to see a dream of a bright and connected future, equally important is to make conscious efforts to get there.
The remarks were made by Syed Akhter Ali Shah, Former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the Ulasi Taroon Youth Summit held by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) at University of Peshawar.
Former IGP added that it is better that the law should rule than one of the citizens. The notion of rule of emphasizes the importance of broader national interest over than selfish personal interests of any particular group. As per the foundational tenets enshrined in the constitution of Pakistan, every individual and institution is subject to and accountable before law, indiscriminately. Good governance comes through representativeness, transparency, effectiveness, accountability etc. Ensuring social peace and security is critical to the provision of fundamental human rights. Pakistani youth – with over 60% of the country’s overall population, is an opportunity not to be missed and crucial for development.
Mr. Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director, CRSS, stressed that there is a dire need to inculcate critical thinking skill in youth s to equip them with the intellectual tools vital to dialogue and participation. Change comes from within, it, more importantly than the national change, is about individual change. Collective efforts informed by the shared goals of peace drive social cohesion and development, and lead to instrumental change. Youth should collectively hold their public representatives accountable.
Dr. Abaseen Yousafzai, Chairman, Department of Pashtoo, Islamia College University, Peshawar, said that literature is a way of expression through a range of different mediums of communication that can be beneficial for social cohesion. Its fosters domestic, national and global connectivity and cultivates positivity. It can be utilized in a range of different ways, especially to influence the much needed social attitudes for translation into positive social change.
The event was participated by over 80 future leaders from around thirty public and private sector universities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. They participated in the speech competition on the topic Importance of Social Cohesion for Peaceful Pakistan, undertook exercises to formulate their vision for the future of Pakistan and identified the role of youth. The participating students also shared their success stories of personal and social change initiatives.
They were of the view that it is only through equality, accountability, acceptance and rule of law that we can expect a cohesive and prosperous country.
Mrs. Shagufta Khalique, educationist, said that the youth should not only formulate their vision for the connected and prosperous future of the country but also identify their roles and responsibilities as part of that vision. That’s what the responsible citizenry means; constructive participation in the national discourse.
Mr. Malik Mustafa, Team Leader, Ulasi Taroon, said that it’s only by a selfless and inclusive vision, can youth formulate shared goals of a more connected and prosperous future. Everyone has some unique and extraordinary gifts and sharing them with others – by acting out of fulfillment rather than scarcity – can they make this world a better place to live.
Ulasi Taroon is a counter radicalization initiative of CRSS that aims to address the radicalization challenges, extremist ideologies and foster social cohesion through a discourse anchored in the core constitutional values which are fundamentally essential prerequisites for social peace and harmony. The endeavor aims to cultivate and sensitize the youth – in the universities across KP – in the core values in the Pakistani constitution and our social contract. It’s an attempt to highlight the criticality of abiding by these ideals – such as adherence to rule of law, primacy and sanctity of constitution, equal citizenry, responsible citizenship, respect for fundamental human rights, tolerance for diversity and different opinions, inclusive democracy and good governance – as a measure of fostering social cohesion and peaceful co-existence.