LAHORE: The International Youth Peace Summit 2013 was held at Al-Hamra Arts Complex under the auspices of Kafka Welfare Organization. The event was designed to encourage confab, inquest and self-reflection among the youth thematically focusing on the “Role of Youth in Peace Development.”
RJ Zuhair introduced the Kafka Welfare Organization and outlined the agenda for the day. A panel discussion comprising Director Excise and Taxation RizwanSherwani, Saeed Khokhar Advocate, Taranjeet Singh and renowned writer Rukhsana Noor hosted by youth icon Quratulain kick started the event.
“Law abiding citizens are the building blocks of peace.” SaeedK hokhar outlined the role of youth in revolutions and peace building measures with reference to the Arab Springs.–Staff Reporter
“Youth is not just an entity. It is a dream - an idea. When hierarchy fails, each individual self is responsible to lead the society,” said Rukhsana Noor. RizwanSherwani sketched the diagnostics for peace building measures saying that religious, vertical and horizontal divisions can be overcome by converging leadership. Waqas Ahmad talked to the delegates on how young individuals from amongst them could become “Agents of Change”.
The second half of the event was taken up by the Kafka Youth Icon Awards Ceremony in which prominent youth activists were awarded for their contributions and feats. Maryam Azeem (Youth Parliament Pakistan) also graced the event and gave profound insights on the role of youth in peace-building measures and focused on how each individual could catalyze the process of peace and conflict resolution. Jawad Ahmad, Chief Guest of IYPS’13 delivered an inspiring speech on capitalism, feudal system, energy crises and conflict resolution in Pakistan.
An iconic event, the International Youth Peace Summit 2013 provided a platform for connecting youth-based social change efforts across all lines of difference, unleashing the collaborative power and collective action of today’s younger generation.