The Punjab Government will unveil “the first-ever Youth policy” with prime emphasis on youth empowerment and their participation in different development projects and sports events helping them play their due role in nation building.
“Chief Minister Punjab Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif will unfold the ambitious policy today (June 6, 2012), Wednesday, at a youth convention and it is going to be a historic moment in country’s history,” said Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly, Rana Mashhood Ahmad at a press conference at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. Secretary Sports Punjab Haroon Ahmed Khan and Director General Sports Board Punjab and Youth Affairs Usman Anwar were also present on the occasion.
Rana Mashhood said through its youth policy leaders of tomorrow will be identified and their talent will be utilized in various development projects.
Rana Mashhood while highlighting the salient features of the policy said that the Punjab Government is taking the initiative to assemble the youth on one platform with the main focus on youth empowerment.
“Since the rights to youth affairs were given to the provinces after the 18th amendment, the Punjab Government had been working on the formation of a comprehensive youth policy for which 26 provincial departments were identified to work on and around 80 officials were take onboard for extending support with technical assistance coming from an NGO, Bargad,” said the deputy speaker.
He said that as part of the youth policy, the Punjab Government initiated the lap-top scheme which would continue to have its share in every budget of the province. “We would be identifying youth icons and there will be 15 youth sports councilors with having 10 male and five female councilors as the ambassadors of the province,” he added.
He said in the youth policy as many as 52 youth councils will be developed. “Two extraordinary performers of every division will be brought forward while two youth ambassadors, both male and female will be identified and two youth advisors will be appointed.”
He further said that the Chief Minister Punjab is allocating two percent of the budget for the Youth Development and also for the Youth Sports Festival which will start throughout the province from in August.
Rana Mashhood said the CM has also allocated endowment funds for the veteran sports personalities to look them after in the time of needs.
“In the youth festival around 40 for 40.50 million young people from all walks of life will be involved, which is going to be the biggest-ever event of the world,” he asserted.
“We have already organized the biggest Sports Festival and efforts are underway for its recognition as the world largest sports event,” he said.
Rana Mashhood also said that the toppers of the Sports Festival will also participate in the Youth Festival. “They will also compete against the players of around 22 countries, which have confirmed their participation in the International Youth Sports Festival to be held later this year,” he said.
To a number of questions, Rana Mashhood said that Punjab Sports Board will organise the National Games along with the Youth Festival. “The associations will provide the technical assistance while sports board will hold the event.”
To another question, he said that there are bylaws for construction at the Nashtar Park Arena and the Pakistan Cricket Board or any other organization is not above these laws.
On the issue of laying blue turf, he said that the Sports Board Punjab and installer of the turf have signed an agreement of laying the new plastic surface, changing of the shock pads and asphalt of surface and he (installer) is being asked to fulfill the laid down conditions of the tender document and to ensure the completion of the project timely. “We cannot violate the agreement till the end of the agreement time,” he added.
