ISLAMABAD — Under the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Prof. Ahsan Iqbal has announced a major national drive to train one million young Pakistanis as Agents of Social Change under the national framework of URAAN Pakistan.
The nationwide initiative was unveiled during the Strategic Dialogue and launch of the Development Advocate Pakistan report, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives.
Grassroots Transformation & Skill Building
The movement aims to mobilize youth across the country by equipping them with practical leadership, communication, community engagement, and social mobilization skills. Beyond serving as a catalyst for grassroots community development, the program is designed to enhance the employability and professional growth of young participants.
“Lasting national development begins with empowered communities, and empowered communities are built by empowered youth. By investing in our young people, we are investing in Pakistan’s future,” stated Prof. Ahsan Iqbal during his address.
Key Priorities for “Development Advocates”
Serving as Development Advocates, these young leaders will spearhead awareness and action campaigns across critical national development sectors:
- 📚 Education: Bringing out-of-school children back into formal education systems.
- 👨👩👧👦 Population Management: Raising awareness on family well-being and demographic balance.
- 🚰 WASH: Promoting clean drinking water, proper sanitation, and hygiene practices.
- 🥗 Health & Nutrition: Tackling child stunting and improving preventive healthcare.
- 🚫 Substance Abuse Prevention: Driving community-led drug prevention initiatives.
- 🌿 Climate & Environment: Building local climate resilience and environmental protection awareness.
The initiative marks a fundamental shift toward human-capital-led development, seeking to leverage Pakistan’s massive youth demographic to drive long-term structural and social progress across every district.
