Students present ideas to change society at youth conference

Islamabad

As many as 150 students from the Air University Islamabad, Bannu University KP and the hosts, Comsats, Islamabad participated in a day-long youth conference here Friday in which they presented various ideas which, they claimed, could easily be implemented and yet bring about a massive change in the society.

The Federal Minister for Housing and Works, Akram Durrani, who also had been a former Chief Minister of KP (then NWFP) was the chief guest. Mubashar Nabi, the Chief Executive of ‘ACT’ (Aiming for Change Tomorrow), who organised the whole programme in three universities on voluntary basis in collaboration with the UNV and the UNDP, was also present on the occasion.

The participating students put forth 12 different projects that they had conceived, revolving around poverty alleviation, gender equality, women empowerment, environment, and promoting education and awareness with minimal investment.

Akram Durrani, while speaking on the occasion said that there was never a greater need to invest in the youth then today for a better future and faster development of the country. “They are energetic, more aware, exuberant and enthusiastic to improve conditions around them and they have the tools in their hands in shape of their education supported by the awareness that has spread because of the modern tools and technology available to them now,” Mr Durrani said.

“There is also a very important factor where the teachers at all levels, from schools to universities, have to play a greater role is to not only impart quality education but also pay attention at building their character, teach them our culture and traditions of respect and importance of religion in our daily life,” Mr Durrani said.

The ACT CEO, Mubashar Nabi, said that his organization had been engaged in taking initiatives to induce a positive and healthy change in the society with a futuristic approach. He said that this particularly activity, under which a series of such conferences were held in COMSATS, the Air University and the Bnnu University in KP, were arranged voluntarily. The conferences held in Air University and the Comsats in Islamabad were in collaboration with the UNV while those arranged in the Bnnu University were in collaboration with the UNDP.

The students, who were divided in 12 groups, presented their social action projects. The presentations were followed by a panel discussion in which the participants posed critical questions and the presenters came up with their answers and explanations in defence and support of what they have conceived and how they were going to implement those.

At the end of the day, Myra Imran, a journalist, who was especially invited to attend the function, was presented a ‘Shield of Appreciation’ for her contributions towards highlighting youth issues and women empowerment through her writing in the newspaper.

Others who were presented shield included Dr Nadeem Khan, Director ORIC, PIDE, Fazila Qazi, faculty staff Air University, Akhtar ud Din, the Programme Officer of UNV, and Khurram Elahi and Sultan Mehmood, the Vice-Chancellor of the Bannu University.

Students of the three university were also given away shields for participating in the whole programme. A local philanthropist, Saifullah Zia, gave cash awards to the participating students.