By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Provincial Minister for Minorities Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, attended the closing ceremony of the 15th National Youth Peace Festival 2025 held at Ali Auditorium, Ali Institute of Education, Lahore.
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The two-day festival (24–25 September), organized by the Chanan Development Association (CDA), brought together over 500 young leaders from across Pakistan. The event was also graced by Minister for Education, Balochistan, Raheela Hameed Durrani, Senator Bushra Anjum Butt, and CDA Executive Director Muhammad Shehzad Khan, among other distinguished guests.
Young participants engaged in meaningful dialogue on key themes including civil engagement, social cohesion, menstrual dignity, climate change, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s central theme, “Driving Impact – Reimagining Future: Youth Power for a Cohesive, Resilient, and Dignified Future”, highlighted the festival as an important platform for youth-led decision-making, intergenerational dialogue, and social development in Pakistan.
In his address, Minister Ramesh Singh Arora said that youth are the backbone of Pakistan’s future. Their voices, ideas, and energy must be included in policymaking, economic growth, and social cohesion. The Punjab Government is committed to providing equal opportunities and empowering youth to play their role in shaping a diverse and inclusive society. He further noted that, for the first time, minority youth are being trained at the Civil Services Academy, thousands are benefiting from e-learning programs, and scholarship schemes have been significantly expanded on the instructions of the Chief Minister Punjab to remove barriers in education. He also paid tribute to CDA for bringing youth together on a common platform and promoting leadership, inclusion, and social progress since 2006.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Education Balochistan, Raheela Hameed Durrani, emphasized “acquiring knowledge is a duty upon all of us. I urge the youth never to abandon the process of learning and to play a key role in eliminating hatred from society.
Senator Bushra Anjum Butt said that we must curb hate speech and negativity on social media. Through education, the young generation can actively contribute to Pakistan’s growth and development. Together, we must transform Pakistan into a cradle of peace.
CDA Executive Director, Muhammad Shehzad Khan, stated that the festival has, over the past 15 years, become a dynamic platform for youth from diverse backgrounds.
He added that this year’s focus was on youth-led reimagining of the future to ensure dignity, resilience, and social harmony. The ceremony concluded with Minister Ramesh Singh Arora, along with other dignitaries, distributing certificates among participating youth. National Youth Peace Festival 2025 sparks vision for a resilient future
