Islamabad, August 1, 2026: Chairman of Pakistan Awami Quwat (PAQ), Khaqan Waheed Khawaja, has said that Pakistan’s future depends on empowering its youth through meaningful opportunities, justice and greater participation in the democratic process.
In a statement, Khawaja said one of the notable examples of youth-led political activism and public protest in Pakistan emerged in 2019, when young people raised their voices for employment opportunities, constitutional rights and freedom of expression. He said Arooj Aurangzeb was among the prominent voices of that movement, adding that the protests did not gain broader momentum at the time due to a variety of factors.
He observed that recent youth-led public movements in countries including Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh reflected a growing trend of young people demanding a better future, justice and good governance.
The PAQ chairman said his party firmly believed that Pakistan’s youth had the constitutional and democratic right to pursue peaceful struggle for dignified employment, quality education, transparent governance, relief from inflation and the protection of citizens’ rights.
He stressed that the country’s progress depended on ensuring that the voices of young people were heard, differences of opinion were respected, and public issues were addressed through dialogue and effective policymaking rather than the use of force.
“The future of Pakistan lies in the hands of its youth, and the time has come to provide them not merely with promises, but with real opportunities and justice,” Khawaja said.
