Islamabad: Rana Mashhood, Chairman of the Prime Minister Youth Programme (PMYP), announced significant strides in engaging Pakistan’s youth in climate action through the Green Youth Movement (GYM), during his keynote at the “Driving the Change; The Dynamic Role of Pakistan’s Youth and Civil Society in Climate Resilience” event.

According to Press Information Department, the GYM initiative, part of the PMYP, has successfully established clubs in 137 public sector universities across Pakistan. These clubs aim to educate and sensitize young people about the effects of climate change, with plans to expand these efforts to all educational institutions nationwide. Rana Mashhood highlighted the critical role that young people play in addressing climate challenges, emphasizing that Pakistan, which contributes less than 1 percent to the global carbon footprint, faces severe impacts from climate change.

Mashhood revealed upcoming collaborations, including a notable initiative to be announced by Commonwealth Secretary General RT Patricia Scotland during a forthcoming meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Furthermore, the PMYP plans to train 200,000 youngsters this year through the National Volunteer Core to prepare them for climate-related risks such as rains, earthquakes, and floods.

The Chairman also noted various PMYP initiatives across education, technical training, arts, and sports, designed to empower youth and integrate their perspectives into policy-making. He encouraged young people to engage with the PMYP portal for opportunities and information, stressing the essential contribution of youth creativity and energy in crafting sustainable climate policies.