
Karachi, January 30-31, 2025 – The 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan® convened its sixth session in Karachi bringing together 162 young members, attending in person and virtually from across Pakistan, including Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Overseas Pakistanis. The session served as a unique platform for youth to address critical issues in Pakistan, such as promoting interfaith harmony and protecting the rights of religious minorities in the country. The two-day session highlighted the importance of youth-led initiatives in preventing violent extremism, and addressing the systemic challenges that disproportionately impact marginalized communities across Pakistan.
This activity marks a significant milestone of project CPTP, Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan. Funded by EU, led by NACTA and executed by UNODC with its partner civil society organization PILDAT, this particular project aims at fostering community resilience and developing sustainable networks. This two-day YPP® session is part of this effort, aimed at equipping young leaders with the skills and knowledge to address national challenges.
The session commenced with a study visit to the Governor House, Karachi, where members had the opportunity to meet the Honourable Governor of Sindh, Mr. Kamran Khan Tessori. During the visit, the young parliamentarians learned about various initiatives spearheaded by the Governor of Sindh, particularly a free education initiative aimed at equipping youth with IT skills to enhance their learning and earning potential. Honourable Mr. Kamran Khan Tessori, Governor of Sindh, addressed the MYPs, emphasizing that youth are the key to Pakistan’s future, and urged them to take an active role in shaping the nation’s path to progress.
The first sitting also featured a parliamentary-style debate on the insurgencies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and their impact on efforts to Prevent Violent Extremism (PVE) in Pakistan. Members of the 18th Youth Parliament Pakistan® underscored how these insurgencies disproportionately affect youth by limiting their access to education, economic opportunities, and social mobility, thereby exacerbating cycles of radicalization. Members engaged in a thought-provoking exchange, emphasizing the urgent need for proactive strategies to counter these challenges and mitigate their long-term repercussions.
The second day of the session began with a policy dialogue on interfaith harmony policy, featuring distinguished speakers such as Honourable Mr. Anthony Naveed, Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Mr. Mahesh Kumar Hasija, MPA, MQM-P, Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, MNA, PPPP and Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt, Chairman, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

During the discussion, Honourable Mr. Anthony Naveed, Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, acknowledged that challenges exist and will persist, but emphasized that effective policy implementation is crucial. He supported the formation of a National Minority Commission but critiqued past commissions, stating that they had only 40% minority representation. He also took exception to the term minority, and instead suggested the use of a term like faith-based communities. Mr. Mahesh Kumar Hasija, MPA, MQM-P, stressed the need for a curriculum revision, as existing educational texts often promote discrimination. He noted that minority communities are often targeted in these books, painted as the “others” and as “threats”. He reiterated the need for greater public awareness of laws protecting minorities, ensuring that such knowledge is not limited to parliamentarians alone.
Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, provided a foundational understanding of interfaith harmony, defining it as peaceful coexistence. She criticized the role of media in exacerbating discrimination and urged for efforts to address these issues both individually and collectively. Additionally, she pointed out the ongoing challenges to freedom of speech in Pakistan, highlighting the need for structural reforms. Mr. Asad Iqbal Butt referenced Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which states that all individuals are equal and should be treated as such by the state. He addressed the issue of forced conversions and stressed the need for self-reflection as a society. The dialogue concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where MYPs raised critical questions and explored potential solutions to the challenges facing minority communities.

The second highlight of the day was a conversation with political scholar Mr. Ghazi Salahuddin, who spoke on promoting cultural and intellectual tolerance among youth as a means of preventing violent extremism in Pakistan. He emphasized the importance of broadening youth perspectives by linking them with global movements and leveraging literature to foster cross-cultural dialogue and understanding. He stressed that Pakistani youth must engage with the arts to learn from diverse experiences and cultivate inclusivity and tolerance.
The session concluded with the presentation of a resolution by MYP Daniel Massey (NA-131-Lahore-IX), calling on all political parties in Pakistan to allocate more general seats to youth and minorities in elections and ensure their meaningful inclusion in decision-making processes. The resolution was passed with a majority vote, reinforcing the demand for increased political representation of marginalized groups.
The sixth session of the 18th YPP reflected PILDAT’s commitment to empowering Pakistan’s youth to play a proactive role in shaping the nation’s democratic and civic future. With representation from across Pakistan, the initiative serves as a unique platform for young leaders to engage directly with policymakers and influence national discourse. Since its inception in 2005, the Youth Parliament Pakistan® has nurtured over 2,000 young leaders, many of whom have excelled in politics, governance, civil services, and academia. The 18th iteration continues to build on this legacy, amplifying youth voices and fostering their role as champions of peace, inclusion, and resilience.