Pakistan champions youth diplomacy at CICA Youth Council Meeting at Baku

• PM Youth Programme's flagship initiatives presented at Baku forum

• Rizwan Anwar stresses role of young people in sustainable cities

• Urges deeper regional cooperation through exchanges and innovation, reaffirming commitment to peace and regional integration

 LAHORE/BAKU: Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation and youth-led sustainable development by actively participating in the 9th Meeting of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) Youth Council, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme "Youth Engagement in Advancing Sustainable Urban Development."

The high-level meeting was chaired by Azerbaijan's Minister of Youth and Sports, Farid Gayibov, and attended by CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay, along with youth ministers, senior government officials and high-level delegations from CICA member states.

Pakistan's delegation was led by Rizwan Anwar, Special Representative to the Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP), and co-led by Maha Jamil, Special Representative to the Prime Minister's Youth Programme. The delegation also included Pakistan's Youth Delegates Ammar Imran, Hamza Ali Batth and Maryam Imran, who participated in the Council's deliberations on strengthening regional youth cooperation and advancing sustainable urban development.

Addressing the Council on behalf of Pakistan, Rizwan Anwar said meaningful youth engagement was essential for building inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities. He stressed the need to equip young people with quality education, digital skills, entrepreneurial opportunities and leadership platforms to enable them to play an active role in economic growth, climate resilience and social development across Asia.

Presenting Pakistan's national perspective, he highlighted the flagship initiatives of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and implemented under the guidance of PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan. He said the programme continued to empower millions of young Pakistanis through initiatives in higher education, scholarships, skills development, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, sports, volunteerism, innovation and international youth engagement.

Rizwan Anwar further underscored Pakistan's belief that youth diplomacy is a powerful tool for fostering mutual trust, strengthening people-to-people ties and advancing regional peace and prosperity. He called on CICA member states to deepen cooperation through youth exchanges, innovation partnerships, knowledge sharing and collaborative initiatives aimed at addressing common regional challenges while advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Pakistan's participation in the 9th CICA Youth Council reflects the country's continued commitment to constructive regional engagement and its support for the objectives of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. Through active youth participation and strengthened international partnerships, Pakistan remains committed to promoting peace, sustainable development and greater regional integration across Asia.