Terming education the key to progress, Rizwan Anwar, Special Representative for International Linkages and Youth Development to the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, said that real development starts when people are empowered to think, innovate, and lead.
“Together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future through the power of learning,” he said after his keynote address at Oxford University. The session focused on the important role of youth engagement in social transformation and sustainable development.
Rizwan informed the participants how the youth program was empowering youngsters to push for an impactful change in their communities. He reiterated the government of Pakistan’s commitment to empower youth as key agents of progress, and discussed how the program was providing equal opportunities for youth development and giving youth the tools and platforms they need to contribute to Sustainable Development Goals.
Maha Jamil, also a special representative, later talked about the need to ensure equal opportunities for women in development. She told the participants about the government’s active role in making sure that young women have opportunities to lead and innovate. She said that women were central to sustainable development, and that the government was committed to promoting an inclusive environment.
The event was attended by youth leaders, representatives from the Pakistan High Commission in London and Pakistani students who wanted to speak about how they could drive sustainable initiatives within their communities. Under the chairmanship Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, the Prime Minister’s Youth Program continues to align its activities with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Rizwan concluded the session by saying that Pakistan’s youth were ready to lead on global challenges. “By engaging the youth in key sectors, we are investing in a future where young leaders will drive change, both within Pakistan and abroad,” he said.