President of Youth Council Pakistan (YCP), Muhammad Shehzad Khan, concluded a highly impactful and productive visit to the United Kingdom this August, aimed at enhancing youth diplomacy, bilateral cooperation, and cultural and educational exchanges between Pakistan and the UK.
The visit was marked by a series of high-level engagements with Members of the British Parliament, government officials, local leaders, and student representatives. Mr. Shehzad Khan’s agenda centered on strengthening the role of parliaments in youth-led diplomacy and addressing key global issues including climate change, education, peace-building, cultural understanding, and transnational cooperation.
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During the visit, he held important meetings with prominent Members of the UK Parliament such as Abtisam Mohammad, MP for Sheffield and Member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee; Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds; Barrister Yasmin Qureshi, MP for Bolton, Chairperson of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pakistan and UK Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Egypt; Barrister Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford and Chairperson of the APPG on Kashmir; and Mr. Tahir Ali, MP for Birmingham and Senior Vice Chairman of the APPG on Kashmir. He also met with Dr. Muhammad Faisal, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK; Raja Najabat Hussain (Sitara-e-Pakistan), Chairman of JKSDMI International; and Yasmin Dar, Lord Mayor of Manchester and Chairperson of the International Lobby on Kashmir. Furthermore, his interactions extended to local leadership including Councillor Asghar Khan Qureshi, Councillor Kamran Hussain, Councillor Rizwan Jalil, and Councillor Neghat Basharat.
Recognizing the pivotal role of students and the diaspora in international relations and soft diplomacy, Mr. Shehzad also engaged with student union representatives and youth activists from leading UK universities including Bradford University, Lancaster University, Durham University, King’s College London, Teesside University, and the University of Portsmouth. This outreach formed part of a broader initiative to build a unified platform for Pakistani youth in the UK, fostering opportunities for leadership, innovation, and cultural representation. “Our youth abroad are the true ambassadors of Pakistan, and engaging them is key to promoting our country’s soft image globally,” stated Mr. Shehzad.
The visit has been hailed as a milestone in youth-led international engagement and has laid the foundation for long-term partnerships in areas such as educational exchange programs, cultural diplomacy, climate advocacy, and peace-building. Youth Council Pakistan continues to lead efforts in empowering youth at both national and international levels, aligning with Pakistan’s vision of inclusive development and global cooperation.
