Ayaz stresses youth role in democracy, sustainable development at ‘Hum Hain Pakistan’ SDG campaign

Speaker of National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Thursday underscored the vital role of youth participation in parliamentary processes, democratic governance and sustainable development.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Youth campaign and training initiative titled ‘Hum Hain Pakistan,’ he said the SDGs Secretariat was established as a dedicated institution to strengthen coordination between federal and provincial legislatures while advancing the SDG agenda across Pakistan.
The event, organized under the auspices of the SDG Parliamentary Task Force, brought together parliamentarians, educationists, development partners, students, and representatives of various institutions to promote youth engagement and awareness regarding the Sustainable Development Goals.
He highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure harmonization of laws and institutional development among all provinces.
Ayaz Sadiq said the National Assembly had also facilitated provincial legislative units in establishing parliamentary caucuses, including Women Caucuses and Child Rights Caucuses, which were now operational in all provincial assemblies.
Referring to the 2024 Speakers’ Conference, he said the forum played an important role in enhancing cooperation and liaison among legislative institutions nationwide.
He emphasized upon the need for stronger collaboration between federal universities and provincial educational institutions to promote research, volunteerism, and meaningful youth engagement.
Encouraging students, researchers, and young volunteers to actively contribute towards national progress. The Speaker also appreciated the efforts of Maryam Aurangzeb in making youth-focused SDG initiatives more effective and impactful.
Convener SDGs, Shaista Pervaiz Malik said the “Hum Hain Pakistan” initiative was launched to transform students from passive learners into active contributors to national development.
She stressed that sustainable development could only be achieved by equipping young people with leadership skills, civic awareness, and practical opportunities for community engagement.
She said the campaign would encourage student-led projects, mentorship programs, institutional SDG focal persons, and community-based initiatives to make the Sustainable Development Goals a practical reality for Pakistan’s youth.
During the ceremony, Dr. Sultan Azam Temuri, Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer International Governance and Sustainability Institute (IG-SI), delivered a detailed presentation on the campaign.
He explained that the initiative was a structured youth-led program designed to institutionalize SDG education and action across schools, colleges, and universities in Islamabad through a “Learning + Action” model aimed at turning students into active change-makers.
The campaign was being led by the SDG Parliamentary Task Force in collaboration with the International Governance and Sustainability Institute (IG-SI), United Peacekeepers Federal Council (UNPKFC), and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.
The initiative aligned with Pakistan’s five-year National Economic Transformation Plan, “Uraan Pakistan,” based on the 5Es framework, Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy and Infrastructure, and Equity and Empowerment, and aimed to support Pakistan’s progress toward achieving the Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Broadcasting, Barrister Danyal Chaudhry, said it was encouraging to see public school principals playing a central role in the dialogue, describing them as key drivers of meaningful educational reform.
He observed that while students in many private institutions had become increasingly familiar with the SDGs, similar opportunities were still lacking for a large number of public school students across Pakistan.
He said bridging this gap was the central objective of the “Hum Hain Pakistan” initiative.
Danyal Chaudhry, emphasized that principals possessed firsthand understanding of classroom and community realities, making their insights essential for translating SDG awareness into practical action.
He urged educational leaders to make SDGs simpler, relatable, and easier for students to understand, while calling for the initiative to be expanded across all provinces with equal commitment and ownership.
Among other distinguished participants at the ceremony were Syed Ali Qasim Gilani, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Maj. (R) Tahir Iqbal, Sher Ali Arbab, and Mehtab Akbar Rashdi.