Youth Development Foundation Dialogues with Islamabad Academic Leaders

A group of religious scholars and social workers from Southern Punjab representing the Youth Development Foundation (YDF) met with academic leaders of Islamabad. This meeting was intended to identify and explore collaborations among higher education institutes, madrassahs, and minorities in Pakistan. The YDF delegation is led by Mr. Shahid Rehmat, Executive Director of this organization. Several academic leaders from Islamabad, including Mr. Abdul Basit, Chancellor Preston University, Dr. Hijazi Syed, Vice Chancellor Muslims Youth University, Mr. Raza Chouhan, Director Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Prof. Dr. Ghulam Ali Mallah, Secretary IBCC, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali, Quaid e Azam University Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor National Skills University Islamabad and several others welcomed the YDF delegation.

The YDF delegation members gave an elaborate presentation on their ongoing efforts and future work. According to the YDF, this organization promotes social cohesion in Pakistani society by promoting ethical and moral values among youth, thus inculcating a social behavior of respecting cultural, social, and religious diversities.

Speaking at the occasion, all academic leaders welcomed the YDF team and appreciated the efforts of Mr. Murtaza Noor, Coordinator General of the Inter-University Consortium for the Promotion of Social Sciences, in arranging such collaborative activities. They all believed that Mr. Noor had been deeply involved in promoting activities that corroborate the YDF mission. In the past, under the leadership of Mr. Noor, several conferences on peacebuilding through inter and intra provincial meetings, promoting cohesive environments among higher education institutes of the country, and vital contributions in upcoming national education policy are worth mentioning. They advised YDF to strengthen their efforts through Mr. Murtaza Noor's organization, the IUCPSS. Of note, the single national curriculum launched by the Federal Ministry of Education & Professional Training culminates disparities at school levels, and efforts are ongoing to a uniform academic system with equal opportunities for every citizen of the country.

All participants of the meeting were presented AJRAK, a traditional gift of Southern Punjab by the YDF. The academic leaders promised to cooperate with YDF by developing a uniform policy.