Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, President of the Young Parliamentarians Forum, led a delegation to meet Punjab Education Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat at the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence in Lahore on 17 January 2026 to advance a coordinated youth agenda across the province.
The meeting recognised Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s emphasis on youth development and praised the minister’s efforts to translate that vision into practical programs. Discussions focused on protecting young people from drug abuse, strengthening youth participation in governance, and expanding youth leadership opportunities through the Youth Ambassadors programme.
With more than 60 percent of Punjab’s population under 30 and roughly 20 million students enrolled across over 50,000 educational institutions, the delegation emphasised education-led interventions. The YPF urged nominations of Youth Ambassadors from schools, colleges and universities to groom young leaders and include them in policy-making, while prioritising youth mental health alongside awareness campaigns.
A detailed briefing on the Nawaz Sharif Centre of Excellence highlighted pilot projects on AI advancement and other innovations led by young leaders. The delegation proposed an orientation session in Lahore for Youth Ambassadors and recommended organising khuli kachehri youth conventions to capture grassroots issues and strengthen links between legislators and their constituencies.
Minister Rana Sikandar Hayat directed his ministry to invite all provincial YPF chapters in March for a follow-up deliberation. He noted ongoing monthly themes such as Say No to Drugs and Say No to Bullying, and the YPF President proposed adding a focused campaign on Say No to Bad Touch to protect children and adolescents.
The YPF delegation included Ms Kiran Imran Dar, MNA and Coordinator for AJ&K; Raja Osama Sarwar, MNA and Provincial Coordinator for Punjab; Mr Miqdad Ali Khan, MNA and YPF member, alongside officers from the National Assembly Secretariat and representatives of partner organisations. Both sides agreed on concrete next steps to roll out Youth Ambassadors training, awareness seminars, and joint advocacy to engage young Pakistanis in constructive leadership roles.
