LAHORE – The Punjab government will unveil the first-ever youth policy today (Wednesday) with prime emphasis on youth empowerment and their participation in different development projects and sports events, helping them play their due role in nation building. “Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif will unfold the ambitious policy today (Wednesday) at a youth convention and it is going to be a historic moment in the country’s history,” said Deputy Speaker Punjab Assembly Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan at a press conference held at the National Hockey Stadium on Tuesday. Punjab Sports Secretary Haroon Ahmed Khan and Punjab Sports Board and Youth Affairs Director General Usman Anwar were also present on the occasion. Rana Mashhood said that through the youth policy, the leaders of tomorrow would be identified and their talent would be utilised in different development projects. Highlighting the salient features of the policy, he said that the Punjab government was taking the initiative to assemble the youth on one platform with the main focus on youth empowerment. “Since the rights to youth affairs were given to the provinces after the 18th amendment, the Punjab government had been working on the formation of a comprehensive youth policy for which 26 provincial departments were identified to work on and around 80 officials were take onboard for extending support with technical assistance coming from an NGO, Bargad,” said the deputy speaker. He said that as part of the youth policy, the Punjab government initiated the laptop scheme which would continue to have its share in every budget of the province. “We would be identifying youth icons and there will be 15 youth sports councillors with having 10 male and five female councillors as the ambassadors of the province,” he added. He said in the youth policy as many as 52 youth councils would be developed. “Two extraordinary performers of every division will be brought forward while two youth ambassadors, both male and female, will be identified and two youth advisors will be appointed.” He further said that the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was allocating two per cent of the budget for the youth development and also for the Youth Sports Festival which would start throughout the province from August. Rana Mashhood said the chief minister had also allocated endowment funds for veteran sports personalities to look after them in the time of need.“In the youth festival, millions of young people from all walks of life will be involved and it is going to be the biggest-ever event of the world,” he asserted, adding that “we have already organised the biggest sports festival and efforts are underway for its recognition as the world’s largest sports event.”The Punjab Assembly deputy speaker also said that the toppers of the Sports Festival will also participate in the Youth Festival. “They will also compete against the players of around 22 countries, which have confirmed their participation in the International Youth Sports Festival to be held later this year,” he said. Answering a query, Rana Mashhood said that Sports Board Punjab will organise the National Games along with the Youth Festival. “The associations will provide the technical assistance while sports board will hold the event.” He also said that there were by laws for construction at the Nashtar Park Arena and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or any other organisation is not above these laws.