Ms. Misbah Khar, Advisor to Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, urged Islamabad’s youth to make peace, tolerance and compassion central to their lives as she spoke at a ceremony honouring high-achieving students of Westminster School in Bahria Town. She congratulated the award recipients and expressed appreciation to parents and teachers whose guidance made the results possible.
Highlighting the school’s motto, ‘Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts’, Ms. Khar said that quality education and personal care are the foundations of strong communities. She noted that youth leadership grows where students are seen, supported and challenged to become responsible citizens.
Emphasising global unity, she recalled how seeing the Earth from space reveals no borders and underlined that our greatest task is learning to live together and appreciate our differences. In a message aimed at young Pakistanis, she said that advancing peace starts with everyday choices and personal responsibility.
Ms. Khar reminded students that peace and tolerance begin in classrooms, homes and neighbourhoods through simple actions grounded in empathy. ‘Peace starts with listening before judging, understanding before reacting, and choosing kindness, especially when it is not easy,’ she said, urging students to practise these habits as part of their growth in youth leadership.
Citing figures such as Greta Thunberg and Arfa Karim, she highlighted that leadership does not require formal authority but a willingness to act and take responsibility. ‘True leadership is about taking responsibility for your thoughts, your actions, and the difference you can make, no matter how small,’ she noted, encouraging students to lead initiatives that reflect their values.
Addressing wider challenges from climate change to social inequality, Ms. Khar expressed confidence in the younger generation’s creativity and resolve to drive change. She encouraged students to align their ambitions with the Sustainable Development Goals and to pursue solutions with integrity and compassion, quoting Nelson Mandela’s reminder that education is the most powerful weapon to change the world.
Concluding her remarks, Ms. Misbah Khar called on the students to believe in themselves and in Pakistan’s future, urging them to write the next chapter of the nation’s story through service, learning and principled action. Her message stressed that youth leadership rooted in empathy and responsibility can shape a more inclusive and hopeful Pakistan.
