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Young Parliamentarians Forum at BUITEMS Highlights Youth, Gender, and Political Inclusion

On July 24, 2025, a compelling panel session titled “Redefining Power: Youth, Gender, and the Politics of Belonging in Today’s Pakistan” was organized by the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta, under the leadership of President YPF Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, MNA.

The panel featured President YPF Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar and General Secretary YPF Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani, and was attended by a diverse audience including students, faculty members, civil society representatives, officials from the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, and local media. Significantly, the event was graced by the presence of BUITEMS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Hafeez, Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Arbab Mirwais Kasi, Registrar Dr. Ahsan Achakzai, along with the Deans and Directors of the university.

In his address, Nawabzada Mir Jamal Khan Raisani presented key highlights of the first-ever Youth Policy of Balochistan, which he authored. He also unveiled a youth policy brief, outlining crucial legislative reforms and forward-looking strategies for empowering the youth of the province. Raisani emphasized that for the first time, YPF chapters and boards have been established in all legislative assemblies, comprising over 300 young parliamentarians. He reiterated YPF’s commitment to youth advocacy and detailed its outreach efforts across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, ensuring nationwide youth representation.

The session also spotlighted the legislative efforts of Syeda Nosheen Iftikhar, including her successful resolution to increase the number of CSS attempts and raise the upper age limit, as well as her pivotal role in rape prosecution reform and the establishment of special child courts.

Responding to a moderator's question on how common citizens can enter politics or become youth representatives, Syeda Nosheen shared her personal story. She explained how her entry into politics was an unexpected journey, driven by the legacy and vision of her late father. She expressed a heartfelt hope to see young women from her constituency rise through education to hold positions of leadership in the future.

The session concluded with an interactive Q&A, where students raised concerns about the lack of career counselling. In response, Raisani acknowledged the importance of early career guidance and assured participants that the Balochistan Youth Resource Centre would be available to assist and support youth in this area.

The forum proved to be an inspiring platform for dialogue, bridging the gap between youth and policymakers, and reinforcing the idea that young people must be at the center of national development.