Islamabad: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the importance of integrating young people into national decision-making processes and development strategies, highlighting their potential impact on the future of Pakistan. Speaking at the launch of the Youth Ideation Lab, Iqbal called for meaningful youth engagement to devise innovative solutions to the nation’s social and developmental challenges.

According to Press Information Department, the initiative is part of Bano Shaheen, which aims to mobilize one million young people across Pakistan for social change. Iqbal stated that the Lab seeks to empower youth to transition from merely identifying problems to actively solving them, leveraging their creativity to tackle national issues. He underscored the importance of actionable solutions over rhetoric and urged for collaboration between the government and youth to address pressing social issues, including population growth and education deficits.

Iqbal also highlighted the role of the media in focusing on national development rather than political discourse. The Youth Ideation Lab is designed with methodologies from international development organizations, providing a platform for youth to engage in innovation through sprints, talks, and policy labs. The initiative aims to foster a problem-solving mindset among young people, equipping them with the tools to contribute to Pakistan’s development.

The Lab’s activities will be supported by the Young Peace and Development Corps (YPDC) network, targeting the mobilization of 100,000 university students to generate positive community change. The government plans to use the Lab as a vehicle to engage youth in shaping a vision for Pakistan’s future, including the development of a strategic outlook for the year 2047.