Islamabad: Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, has emphasized the importance of leveraging the potential of young people in order to achieve sustainable development and foster regional integration.

According to a statement by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Khan addressed a press conference alongside delegates from the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance Summit. He reiterated governmental support for the policies developed under the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) and assured their implementation.

Khan mentioned the government’s commitment to promoting professionalism, enhancing capacity-building, sharing knowledge, and integrating youth into governance structures. He also highlighted Pakistan’s leadership within the Commonwealth Ministerial Task Force, noting that hosting the CAYA Summit and establishing its Secretariat in Pakistan was a significant achievement for the country.

In his address, Khan expressed gratitude to the delegates from CAYA and non-CAYA member states, including Maldives, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Bahrain, Malaysia, India, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan, for their participation.

Earlier in the day, the Commonwealth Asia Regional Youth Ministers’ Meeting resulted in the adoption of the Islamabad Declaration, which underscores a collective commitment to youth empowerment, active participation in decision-making, and tackling regional challenges.