Youth urged to work for country's progress, prosperity

Energy, exuberance and excitement dominated proceedings of Pakistan's premier youth leadership summit "Young Leaders Conference (YLC)" which began here on Thursday under the aegis of School of Leadership (SoL) at a local hotel. The YLC which is a five-day-long leadership training programme has brought together 300 youths between the ages of 18-24 from across Pakistan and abroad, creating awareness about the leadership possibilities that existed within a multi-disciplinary context.
'Future Here' is the theme of YLC '14, as participants learned how to utilise energy and synergies efforts for a better tomorrow. Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui presided over the inauguration ceremony, while Sindh chief minister's Adviser on Youth Affairs, Faisal Sabzwàri, was the chief guest.
Speaking on the occasion, Faisal Sabzwari said that the country was passing through a critical juncture because of terrorism, law and order situation, ethnic and political issues. He exhorted the youths to play their vital role for putting the country on the right track and on the road to progress. He said that the majority of the country's population comprised lower- middle or less privileged class and he was delighted that most of the participants of conference belonged to the lower-middle class.
He said that the participants' optimism and determination to do their best for the progress and development of the country was highly laudable. He also appreciated the organisers of the conference, saying such programmers should be arranged by the Sindh Youth Department every now and then to help the people of different parts of the country to understand each other's cultures, traditions and lifestyle. Urging the youth to have positive and realistic approach, he advised them to respect difference of opinion and never reject others point of view.
Referring to discussions taking place on social media on different issues, he said that it was unfortunate that majority of youth get emotional when it comes to difference of opinion among them. Speaking on the occasion, Commissioner Karachi Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui highlighted the importance of time, saying "it waits for none". He urged the youths that they being leaders of tomorrow should prepare themselves for meeting the challenges of the country in near future."
He congratulated the organizers and participants of the conference. A participant of the conference, belonging to rural Sindh, Azhar, also spoke on the occasion. SoL's CEO Umair Jaliwala was the moderator of the conference's first day's programme. The conference will continue till September 15.