QUETTA: Bargad, a national level organization working on youth development, in collaboration with Lasbela University and Oxfam Pakistan held a seminar at Lasbela University on “Engaging Youth for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
Three hundred students participated in this seminar. The seminar was organized to provide orientation and awareness to youth about the SDGs specifically in the context of Pakistan such as on climate change, gender equality, peace building, and institutional development with Pakistan’s Vision 2025. The seminar was a part of Bargad and Oxfam’s nationwide campaign on SDGs which involves a series of similar seminars and mainstream and social media campaign in 12 universities all across Pakistan..
The panelists of the seminar included Professor Dr Ghulam Jilani pro vice chancellor of Lasbela University who Dr Syed Manzoor Ahmad Dean faculty of social sciences, Dr Dolat Khan assistant professor Faculty of language and literature Dr Nadeem Nawaz dean faculty of water resource management Ms Salma Butt was the moderator
The panelists shed light on specific SDGs relevant to their work in context of Pakistan and made presentations, followed by discussion with the students.
Professor Dr Ghulam Jilani pro vice chancellor of Lasbela university gave the welcome address and said that he is proud of the fact that how in such a short time the university has reached to such heights, He further said that they have 2000 students and their faculty are highly qualified, as it consists of 50 PHDs which is really an asset. He welcomed Baragd and Oxfam for choosing this university among the 12 selected universities. Ms Zara Qayum and Mohammad Masood students from Lasbela University gave their presentations on the back ground of SDGs and focused on goal 5, 6, 11, 16 and 6 of the SDGs and talked about how important it is for youth to be engaged if we have to meet the challenges of SDGs.
Ms Saima Jasam gave the overall back ground of SDGs and reflected on various statistics on the performance of Pakistan on SDGs. For example Pakistan was ranked at 122 among the SDGs index in 2017. While talking on SDGs she said SDGs are a universal set of 17 goals with 169 targets which all UN member states, including Pakistan, are expected to use in framing their national development agendas. The federal ministry of planning, development and reform and the Planning and Development Department in Punjab have established special units to align national and provincial development processes with the SDGs supported by task forces formed by the members of National and provincial assemblies.
Dr Syed Manzoor Ahmad presented on SDG 8: Economic Growth and Decent Work and shared a few suggestions for Pakistan’s progress.
Dr Nadeem Nawaz spoke on SDG 6 (Ensure access to water and sanitation for all). He shared various statistics on water issues around the world and also talked about the present situation in Pakistan in relation to clean water and sanitation.
Dr Dolat Khan spoke on goal 5 of the SDG which is on gender equality…
Ms. Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director Bargad while addressing the students said she is very happy to see that how many young women are sitting in this university. They can become a role model for many others who do not have the opportunities. The framework of SDGs provides an avenue that can involve youth in development process. It calls for Pakistani youth to be an active part for achieving the SDGs, she added.
Qaisar Roonjah shared his experiences with the students that how he has been groomed by youth organizations including Bargad and now he is so confident that he is invited in national and international level to speak on developmental issues.
Mr. Imran from Oxfam Pakistan said that students should be engaged in research work and they should take the initiatives themselves.
Bargad was not only involved in conducting these seminars but also were very active in social media. Bargad social media team successfully made the Tweeter trend #youthforSDGs in Pakistan.