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e often hear expressions like youth activist, youth advocate, youth champion, youth leader and youth volunteer. However, the term “youth worker” is not as widely recognised or valued. Many perceive it as less prestigious, raising an important question: what exactly is youth work and what do youth workers do? Importantly, how has youth work evolved in Pakistan?
Youth work is a field dedicated to supporting young people in their personal, social and educational development. It often involves informal education, mentoring and community engagement, helping young individuals build skills, gain knowledge and develop confidence and resilience.
One distinctive aspect of youth workers is that they don’t have to be young. They can support and serve young people at any stage of their lives.
Youth workers operate in various settings, such as schools, community centers, NGOs and social services. Their work spans across leadership development, civic engagement, mental health and career guidance. The goal is to help young people reach their full potential, actively participate in the society and lead fulfilling lives.
This brings us to another question: What is the youth age bracket? Definitions vary. The UN defines youth as individuals aged 15 to 24. In Pakistan—and across Commonwealth countries—the youth age bracket extends from 15 to 29.
The Young Men’s Christian Association, founded in 1844, is considered the oldest and largest youth movement. In Lahore, one can still come across YMCA boards and hostels.
Youth and student
It’s crucial to distinguish between youth organisations and student organisations. While most students are part of the youth demographic, this discussion focuses on youth organisations that operate outside of academic institutions.
Youth organizations can be categorised into:
Youth-led organisations
Youth-focused organisations led by older people
Organisations that include youth-related work as part of their mandate
In Pakistan, Rahnuma-FPAP (Family Planning Association of Pakistan) has been engaged in youth-related initiatives since the 1970s. Between 1970 and 1979, it adopted an integrated development approach with community participation, focusing on contraception, population education and development programmes that included young people. Today, it runs 200 youth centres across Pakistan.
The global context
Internationally, youth issues gained formal recognition in 1995 during the International Conference on Population and Development, particularly concerning youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This marked the beginning of youth becoming a significant agenda item in the development sector.
During this period, the UNFPA launched the Y-Peer programme globally. It came to Pakistan in 2009 under the leadership of Sadia Atta. Several other initiatives have since shaped youth leadership in Pakistan. The Youth Advocacy Network, founded by Qadeer Baig, and various youth parliaments—such as PILDAT’s (under Ahmed Bilal Mehboob), the British Council’s (under Abrar-ul Haq), and Rizwan Jaffar’s initiative—have provided platforms for young people to engage in advocacy and policymaking.
Until recently, most youth initiatives in Pakistan focused on population-related issues or SRHR. However, the British Council has introduced a new dimension to youth development through its Active Citizens programme.
Until recently, most youth initiatives in Pakistan focused on population-related issues or SRHR. However, the British Council has introduced a new dimension to youth development through its Active Citizens programme. The launch of the Next Generation Report in 2006 opened the doors for numerous youth programmes.
Bargad had been working on youth political participation and rights since 1997, pioneering efforts in this space. It’s celebrated study Revisiting Student Politics in Pakistanpaved the way for integrating student politics with the framework of development field.
Nurturing young leaders
These initiatives have played a pivotal role in shaping a generation of youth leaders. Individuals like Shahzad Khan, Sana Sohail, Qaiser Roonjha, Fasahat, Najam-us Sahar, Faisal Shabeer, Usman Rasheed, Sarmad Raza, Rabia Dar, Salma Butt, Gulalai Ismail, Saiqa Rani, Noor Imran, Fahad Shahbaz, Uzma Yaqoob, Imran Khan (USIP), late Bilal Ahmad, Saima Jasam, Seher Afsheen, Warda Chaudhry, Akmal Warriach, ShahidRehmat among others emerged from these movements. Today, they lead major organisations, run their own initiatives, engage in politics and contribute to the business community.
In 2001, Ali Salman launched Jawan Pakistan, a pioneering website for educating and mobilising youth online. Later, he authored a book on Pakistan’s youth policies, published by Bargad. As he transitioned past the youth age bracket, he shifted his focus to economic issues and now serves as the executive director of a leading think tank.
In 2010, Sana Sohail and Shahzad Khan founded the Chanan Development Association, a youth-led initiative that has since trained thousands of young people in Pakistan on sexual and reproductive health while advocating for meaningful youth participation. They continue these efforts under CDA’s umbrella.
Youth workers’ contribution
Some of the youth leaders have extended their impact beyond activism. Gulmina Bilal, a dedicated youth leader from the late 1990s, established a network and later founded the Bilal Core Trust in Peshawar. Recognised as one of the most skilled youth trainers in Pakistan’s development sector, she later led the Liberal Forum Pakistan and founded Individual Land, a media consulting firm. Today, she is the NAVTTC chairperson.
Fahad Shahbaz has led the Youth General Assembly and is now the focal person for the PMYP in the Punjab.
It is impossible to talk about youth work in Pakistan and not mention Zafar Ullah Khan, who played a key role in bringing the youth into international NGOs (INGOs). I still recall meeting him as a youth activist when he encouraged me with the words, “Achay khwab dekhnay ki jurrat kijiyay.”
Youth activists and youth workers
It is essential to differentiate between a youth activist and a youth worker. A youth activist or advocate can only hold that title until the age of 29, as per the youth age definition. However, youth work is a profession with no age limit. The Commonwealth’s research on youth workers highlights their role in governance and long-term engagement in youth development.
A few years ago, I considered leaving youth development work, feeling that I was no longer “youth” and should transition to another field. However, a mentor, Layne Robinson of the Commonwealth Secretariat, advised me otherwise. He reminded me that my experience and expertise were rooted in youth work, and it would be a loss to start over in a different sector. His words reshaped my perspective. Today, I proudly identify as a youth worker, continuing to support young people and contribute to their empowerment.
The writer, as executive director of Bargad, has pioneered youth policies in Pakistan. She can be reached on Instagram at pherountal