The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, along with the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, have announced three new initiatives aimed at enhancing youth participation in development and decision-making.
These initiatives align with the mandates from the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting and the Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Taskforce, currently chaired by Pakistan.
The first initiative, the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance, will establish its Secretariat in Pakistan. This alliance will unite national youth councils from eight Commonwealth Asian countries, providing a platform for international dialogue, leadership opportunities, and training courses.
The second initiative, the Commonwealth Youth Parliamentarian Forum, will offer young Commonwealth legislators the chance to develop their leadership skills, exchange best practices, and amplify their voices on critical issues.
The third initiative, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre for Youth, will offer self-paced, Intel-certified training courses to equip young people with job-ready skills in emerging technologies.
During the launch ceremony on 1 August 2024, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who was on her first official visit to Pakistan, emphasized the importance of youth in shaping the future:
“With more than 60 percent of the Commonwealth’s population under the age of 30, our future undeniably rests in the hands of our young people. In Pakistan and across the Commonwealth, our young people are brimming with innovation and imagination. However, they often lack the opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the social, economic, and political development of their countries. We are thrilled that Pakistan, as the chair of the Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Taskforce, is facilitating new initiatives designed to inspire positive change and drive transformative progress for young people in Pakistan and across the Commonwealth.”
During her visit, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland met with key figures, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, cabinet ministers, National Assembly Speaker, Attorney General, youth leaders, Commonwealth high commissioners, and other stakeholders. She reaffirmed Commonwealth solidarity with Pakistan on the second anniversary of the devastating 2022 floods and discussed Pakistan’s progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. The meetings also focused on strengthening Commonwealth relationships, particularly in empowering youth, addressing climate change, promoting good governance, upholding the rule of law, and leveraging AI.
In Islamabad, the Secretary-General launched the ‘Peace at the Crease’ initiative in partnership with the Zalmi Foundation, leveraging the power of sport to bring young people together and promote Commonwealth values such as peace, tolerance, and equality. She also delivered keynote addresses at the National University of Science and Technology and the Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services, discussing the role of young people in climate change and social innovation.
Before departing, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland highlighted Pakistan’s unique role within the Commonwealth, noting the importance of achieving the Paris Climate Agreement goals, especially in light of the lingering effects of the 2022 floods. She stressed the need for immediate action and advocated for a Universal Vulnerability Index to ensure climate justice for disproportionately affected nations.
The Secretary-General’s visit to Pakistan took place from 28 July 2024 to 2 August 2024.