Dar focuses Pakistan's initiatives for youth empowerment at Commonwealth summit

• Dar emphasises commitment to empower youth for leadership.
• Deputy PM says youth actively contributes to policymaking today.
• He urges Commonwealth to embrace youth in building strong future.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday calling the youth leadership vital for a resilient and inclusive Commonwewlth emphasised Pakistan’s strong commitment to providing platforms that empower youth to take on leadership roles.

The deputy premier, in his remarks at the Commonwealth Intergenerational Dialogue held in Samoa, highlighted initiatives like the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in Pakistan, which has supported millions of young people in education, employment, and engagement.

He outlined Pakistan’s efforts in youth empowerment, including the revision of the Commonwealth Youth Programme Memorandum of Understanding (CYP-MOU) and the launch of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA).

Stating that young people were not only the leaders of tomorrow but were actively contributing to policymaking today, the deputy premier commended the contributions of young leaders in climate action and driving digital innovation.

He also urged fellow Commonwealth leaders to embrace the youth as partners in building a stronger, more sustainable future and called for continued intergenerational collaboration to ensure lasting progress for the Commonwealth community.

Pakistan was invited to the Commonwealth moot by King Charles III of the United Kingdom in September as the monarch telephoned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and formally invited him to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa in October.

PM Shehbaz reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to the Commonwealth and the values enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.

He said that the CHOGM in Samoa would provide a forum to discuss opportunities for enhancing intra-Commonwealth cooperation on a number of important issues, such as fostering sustainable development, strengthening democratic institutions and empowering Commonwealth youth.