ISLAMABAD: The National Youth Seminar titled “Youth and the Future of Pakistan,” held at Quaid-i-Azam University, brought together prominent national figures to deliberate on the role of youth in shaping an inclusive and progressive Pakistan.
Among the distinguished speakers was Fauzia Viqar, Honourable Ombudsperson, who joined Niaz Ahmed Akhtar, Chairman Higher Education Commission; Talat Hussain, senior anchorperson; Umar Saif, CEO SurveyAuto; Muhammad Zarain Khan Magsi, Minister for Culture & Tourism, Government of Balochistan; and Wajiha Qamar, Minister of State for Education.
Addressing the gathering, Ms. Viqar underscored that fundamental rights, dignity, equality, and protection from discrimination are universal and inalienable. She highlighted the mandate of the Federal Ombudsperson Secretariat for Protection Against Harassment (FOSPAH) in ensuring workplace protection and safeguarding women’s property rights, while emphasizing that its protective framework extends to all citizens, including transgender persons, minorities, persons with disabilities, women, men, and children.
She stressed the need for functional inquiry systems, stronger institutional mechanisms, and greater public awareness of legal rights to ensure that justice is not only promised but effectively delivered. Speaking directly to students, she encouraged investment in learning, research, and informed opinion-building, noting that well-informed youth play a critical role in strengthening governance systems and advancing a more just society.
The seminar reinforced the message that Pakistan’s youth are not passive observers but active agents in promoting inclusion, accountability, and rights-based progress, positioning them at the forefront of national transformation.
