Country’s first-ever Youth Helpline goes live next month

The country’s first ever Youth Helpline will become functional under the aegis of Punjab government from next month to create a sense of direction among the youth by solving their day to day problems. Punjab Secretary Sports Haroon Ahmad Khan and Plan International Country Director Rahsid Javed signed a one-year MOU to provide counselling to the youth of the province through a helpline, a modern concept of guidance which is in practice in most advanced countries of the world. Also present were Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Mashhood Ahmed and Youth Festival 2012 Organising Committee Chairman Usman Anwar. Briefing journalists about the agreement, Rana Mashhood said through this helpline the youth will be able to discuss their multiple problems and to find their solution with the help of seven experts whose services have been acquired to extend guideline in different fields of life. Mashhood said that the helpline would start functioning in a month and half and after one year assessment the Punjab government will take it over to further carry on the mission of the youth counselling. He also agreed that even the youth ministry officials would require training and they would move ahead with letter and spirit. He said the Punjab government with this helpline give the youth career counseling, education counseling, sense of direction and most importantly to work on their capacity building. “There is no country in the world with 100 percent jobs available to the youth”, he said, adding that “Punjab has taken lead to make the youth self-reliant and self-integrated because they will be the face of the country and leaders of tomorrow,” said the deputy speaker.
“It’s a first step forward and not the last in the working with the Punjab government,” said Rashid Javed. Rashid said the helpline will work seven days a week from 10 am to 8 pm and experts will be readily available on a toll free hotline to listen the problems of the youth and to come up with a counseling solution.