United Nations Development Programme set out its vision and aims for Pakistan’s National Human Development Report 2015 on youth

Islamabad, February 26, 2015 (PPI-OT): About 64 percent of the country’s population is below 29 years of age. Pakistan’s youth is a critical force for shaping human development in the country. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan set out its vision and aims for Pakistan’s National Human Development Report (NHDR) 2015 on youth, today in Islamabad.

The report covers three drivers of youth empowerment – education, employment and engagement – with the objective to track the challenges faced by the young people in Pakistan and improve the policy landscape.

Guided by Lead Authors Dr. Adil Najam and Dr. Faisal Bari, the NHDR is intended to be ‘by the youth, for the youth’. Thus, the aim is not just to develop a report but to ignite a national level conversation through an intensely participatory process spanning discussions, focus groups, radio call-in shows, social media engagements and contests with young people throughout Pakistan.

To provide a robust foundation of quantitative data, fieldwork for a nation-wide Youth Perception Survey was undertaken, and the country’s leading statisticians came together to agree on the approach for sub-national Human Development and Youth Development Indices which will, eventually, be amongst the key components of the final report.

Marc-Andre Franche, Country Director UNDP in Pakistan said, “It is anticipated that the NHDR 2015 will not only generate a sustainable conversation between policymakers and young people in Pakistan, but will identify relevant, evidence-informed policy interventions to improve the opportunities for Pakistan’s youth. The findings of this report will catalyse and guide us in creating the essential opportunities for education, employment, political and social engagement for young people.”

For more information, contact:
Fatimah Inayet,
Communications Analyst
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pakistan
4th Floor, Serena Office Complex,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8355650
Cell: +92300 535 8225
Fax: +92-51-2655014-15
Email: fatimah.inayet@undp.org
Website: http://www.undp.org.pk