By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: The 3rd Punjab Inclusive Governance Summit 2026 was successfully held at the historic Punjab Assembly and organized by Youth Development Foundation (YDF) under its Minority Civic Agents Program, with support from National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
The summit brought together parliamentarians, senior government officials, minority representatives, women leaders, civil society actors, and youth leaders to promote transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance in Punjab.
A major highlight of the summit was the participation of more than 500 participants from over 90 Union Councils across Punjab, making it one of the largest minority civic engagement gatherings ever hosted at the Punjab Assembly. The presence of grassroots minority youth, women, and community leaders at this historic democratic institution reflected the growing confidence, civic awareness, and democratic participation of marginalized communities in Punjab.
The summit aimed to strengthen civic participation, improve public service delivery, and ensure meaningful inclusion of religious minorities and women in governance and decision-making processes.
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Chaudhary Amer Habib, Secretary General Punjab Assembly delivered the keynote address and reaffirmed institutional support for initiatives promoting minority inclusion and participatory governance. In his remarks, he acknowledged the structural challenges faced by minority communities and emphasized the importance of creating equal opportunities and democratic participation for all citizens. He appreciated YDF’s efforts and noted that the Minority Civic Agents Program has significantly contributed to empowering minority youth and strengthening their understanding of governance systems and civic participation.
The summit has attended by Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu as Guest of Honor. In his remarks, he appreciated YDF for creating a meaningful platform that connects public institutions with grassroots minority communities. He highlighted that the participation of 500+ participants inside the Punjab Assembly sends a powerful message of inclusion, democratic ownership, and equal citizenship.
Raheela Khadim Hussain, Coordinator Minorities Punjab emphasized the importance of women’s participation and minority representation in governance processes. She appreciated the active involvement of women civic agents and stated that empowering women and youth at the grassroots level is essential for building an inclusive and progressive Punjab.
Two high-level panel discussions were held during the summit. The first session, titled “Improvement of Public Service Delivery in Punjab,” brought together representatives from WASA, LG&CD, LWMC, NADRA, and Punjab Police to discuss institutional responsiveness and citizen engagement. The second panel discussion, “Inclusion of Religious Minorities and Women in the Governance of Punjab,” focused on challenges related to representation, policy reforms, and pathways for strengthening the participation of marginalized communities in governance structures.
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