Lahore, January 17, 2026: A delegation of the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF), led by its President Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA, on Friday called on Punjab Minister for Education Rana Sikandar Hayat at the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence in Lahore to discuss youth-focused policy initiatives and education-led interventions.
During the meeting, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar commended the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, particularly her emphasis on youth development across the province. She also appreciated the dedicated efforts of Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat, undertaken under the guidance of the Chief Minister, to advance youth-centric reforms and programmes.
The meeting featured in-depth discussions on formulating a coordinated strategy to address youth vulnerability to drug abuse, enhance youth participation in governance, promote youth leadership, and strengthen the Youth Ambassador Programme. With more than 60 percent of Punjab’s estimated 120 million population under the age of 30 and around 20 million students enrolled in over 50,000 educational institutions, both sides stressed the importance of education-led solutions.
Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar emphasized the need to prioritize efforts to curb drug abuse through seminars, advocacy campaigns, and awareness programmes in schools, colleges, and universities, while also underscoring the importance of youth mental health. She urged the Punjab Education Minister to nominate Youth Ambassadors from educational institutions to groom young leaders and actively involve them in policy-making processes.
She said it was the YPF’s mission for young MNAs and MPAs to serve as a bridge between the government and the youth, fostering a progressive and peaceful Pakistan by educating the younger generation about the dangers and vulnerabilities associated with drug abuse.
The YPF delegation was also given a detailed presentation on the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence, where young leaders briefed participants on pilot projects related to artificial intelligence and other innovative initiatives. It was proposed during the presentation to hold an orientation session for Youth Ambassadors in Lahore.
The delegation further suggested organizing khuli kachehri and youth conventions to hear youth concerns directly and strengthen connectivity between legislators and their constituents.
Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat instructed officials of his ministry to invite all provincial YPF chapters in March to further deliberate and strategize on these initiatives. He also informed the delegation that monthly thematic campaigns on “Say No to Drugs” and “Say No to Bullying” are already being conducted. In response, Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar proposed launching a comprehensive awareness campaign on “Say No to Bad Touch” as well.
The YPF delegation included Ms. Kiran Imran Dar, MNA, Coordinator YPF for AJ&K; Raja Osama Sarwar, MNA, Provincial Coordinator YPF for Punjab; Mr. Miqdad Ali Khan, MNA, Member YPF; officers from the National Assembly Secretariat; and representatives of partner organizations.
