New York/Islamabad — At the 2025 UN ECOSOC Youth Forum, the Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) emerged as a leading voice for youth-led governance, climate action, and gender inclusion. During a sideline session titled “Youth in Governance: Driving Climate and Gender Action through Digital Inclusion and Partnerships,” YPP emphasized the urgent need to move beyond tokenism in youth engagement.
Ubaid Ur Rehman Qureshi, YPP President, urged the Government of Pakistan to nominate a Youth Delegate to the United Nations, stating, “Youth participation must evolve from symbolic to meaningful. We must engage youth as real partners in shaping policy and governance.” He outlined YPP’s strategic vision focused on policy inclusion, capacity-building, and global partnerships.
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The session featured opening remarks by Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative to the UN and strong support from Women Parliamentary Caucus Secretary MNA Dr. Shahida Rehmani, who advocated for gender-responsive governance and inclusive climate policies. UK MP Shaffaq Mohammed praised Pakistan’s youth-led efforts, affirming the UK’s support for inclusive, digitally-enabled governance models.
Renowned artist and YPP founding Chairman Abrar-ul-Haq highlighted Pakistan’s climate vulnerability, urging investment in youth as a national and global necessity.
Key recommendations included:
- Establishing a UN Youth Office engagement system for developing countries.
- Official nomination of a Youth Delegate by Pakistan.
- Global climate justice for low-emission, high-risk countries like Pakistan.
The session brought together youth leaders, parliamentarians, civil society, and international allies, and was moderated by YPP Secretary General Hammad Malik and Dr. Sidra Akhtar. The initiative was led by Secretary International Relations Raja Qaiser Jamil and team members from Islamabad and New York.
