MIRPUR: (Parliament Times)  Addressing the concluding sitting of the day-long ‘Youth Policy Dialogue†here late Tuesday,  AJK President Sardar Masood Khan advised the young generation including students to achieve excellence in their respective fields, become active and vibrant civic actors and develop skills to use modern Information Communication Tools in a more strategic and effective way.
It was the  second round of youth policy dialogue organized by AJK-based registered NGO Centre for Peace, Development and Reforms in collaboration with the British Council here entitled “Our Youth Our Future: Creating Spaces for Youth-centric and Youth-led Policy-makingâ€, at local Hotel Grand Regency Mirpur.
Hundreds of  young people from a cross-section of civil society shared their views with the President Sardar Masood Khan and asked critical questions regarding the uneven relationship between Islamabad and Muzaffarabad, poor infrastructure, lack of quality education and health facilities in AJK.
Highlighting their imminent role, President Responding to a question regarding the education system, he stated that he envisions the right person for a right job in universities besides minimizing the political interference and intends to initiate a new degree program compatible to the market needs and demand.
He laid great stress on the character building of young people, and upholding moral and social values as well as meritocracy for good governance in AJK. “Youth and civil society of AJK should support the Government for better governance, and we need to introduce reforms both at the micro and macro levels to curb the menace of corruption in the society†said president while answering a question. On a point raised by a research scholar, Dr. Waqas Ali about increasing rate of unemployment, he stated that the Government is making serious efforts to create opportunities for investment and private sector employment in order to reduce brain drain and provide economic opportunities for young people.
The AJK President revealed that since AJK has also been included in gigantic China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,  two industrial zones each in Bimber and Mirpur, and an expressway from Muzaffarabad to Mirpur will open new vistas of speedy socio-economic progress and prosperity in all spheres of life in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking on this occasion, Vice Chancellor, Mirpur University of Science and Technology (MUST) Prof. Dr. Habib ur Rehman S.I stated that we are in a transition stage and our universities are improving, but a lot needs to be done to build the capacity of young people and to create opportunities for them.
Highlighting the extra ordinary performance of the MUST for the delivery of quality education, harmonious to the need of the modern age, the VC said that MUST has emerged as one of the best varsities of Pakistan securing  the top ranking for providing the quality education of science and technology in over 22 disciplines.
Zeenia Faraz, Head of Programmes-Society, British Council, Islamabad said that the British Council in partnership with CPDR has been providing a platform to youth, aimed to build their capacity and develop a wider understanding regarding the key socio-economic areas and seek ways through which their feedback could be incorporated in decision-making practice. She also hinted to explore the possibilities to develop linkages between the Kashmiri diaspora settled in the United Kingdom and the community in Azad Kashmir.
Speaking on this occasion,  Ershad Mahmud, the Executive Director CPDR said that In today’s globalize world, no nation can make progress without increasing youth participation in the policy-making process and ensuring their economic empowerment.
Dr. Waqas Ali, Director Programmes CPDR said that in AJK, majority of the population comprises of young people and deliberate efforts are required to address their issues like unemployment and brain drain, to better harness their untapped energies. Zulfiqar Abbasi, ex President AJKCC  and a leading businessman stated that the role of the private sector must be made instrumental in generating economic opportunities for youth, instead of providing jobs in the public sector. He underlined the urgent need to conduct an economic survey of AJK so that realistic policies can be formulated on the basis of facts and figures.