Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Integrity, Leadership & Anti-Corruption Conference – “Role of Young People in Promoting Transparent, Accountable and Good Governance”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Integrity, Leadership & Anti-Corruption Conference – “Role of Young People in Promoting Transparent, Accountable and Good Governance”
Date: August 8, 2023
Venue: Serena Hotel, Peshawar
Transparency International Pakistan, a leading anti-corruption organization, hosted a transformative conference in Peshawar on August 8, 2023. The conference, titled “Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Integrity, Leadership & Anti-Corruption Conference: Role of Young People in Promoting Transparent, Accountable, and Good Governance,” aimed to engage and inspire the youth in the fight against corruption.
A total of 140 individuals, comprising 91 males and 49 females, participated in the event. Delegates from 14 universities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were in attendance at the conference. This event served as a dynamic platform for young intellectuals to glean insights from experts and actively participate in enriching discussions concerning key subjects centered around integrity, leadership, and anti-corruption strategies.
The event began with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by Mr. Kashif Ali, the Acting Executive Director of Transparency International Pakistan, delivering the opening remarks. During his address, he provided an overview of the organization’s proactive initiatives aimed at fostering transparency and accountability throughout the country. He highlighted the pervasive nature of corruption and emphasized that the event offered a unique opportunity to engage with young minds and collectively discuss strategies to combat corruption. He also highlighted that public procurement is one of the most vulnerable areas to corruption.
Following this, Mr. Saayad Saadat Jehan, Deputy Director of KP Information Commission, shed light on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Information Act 2013. He imparted valuable insights to attendees, highlighting their right to access information. Mr. Jehan emphasized that a significant portion of the youth, around 60 to 65%, lacks awareness of laws, underscoring the need for awareness raising. He proudly mentioned that the KP was the pioneering province to enact the RTI Law and shared the ongoing efforts to extend this law to GB and Azad Kashmir. Mr. Jehan provided a comprehensive guide on filing complaints, offering attendees a clear understanding of the RTI process.
Following this, Syed Sabir Ali Shah, the Project Manager of the UNDP SDG Unit in Peshawar engaged the audience with a presentation on “Youth-Driven Governance: Role of Youth in Achieving SDGs.” Mr. Sabir Shah delved into Pakistan’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and presented UNDP and government statistics. He provided insights into the strides made towards SDG goals within the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, detailing district-wise rankings based on SDG indicators.
Mr. Shah also shed light on the dynamic nature of youth, noting that approximately 20% of the youth population in KP falls within the age range of 15 to 24. He highlighted the intrinsic link between youth and the SDGs, underlining the fact that over a third of the 169 SDG targets underscore the importance of youth empowerment, participation, and well-being.
With a forward-looking perspective, Mr. Sabir Shah emphasized that the SDGs are inherently future-oriented, and the future indeed belongs to the youth. He stressed that the youth possess the essential attributes including passion, skills, talent, stamina, and innovative ideas to champion human rights, protect the environment, prevent conflicts, and establish collaborative networks across diverse stakeholders. This collaborative approach is crucial for generating the necessary technical, human, and financial resources required to achieve the 2030 Agenda and drive sustainable progress.
Next, Syed Raza Ali, CEO of Peace and Justice Network, shared his insights on “Youth Leadership and Integrity.” His inspiring words motivated the young audience to lead with integrity and ethical values. His presentation underscored the vital contribution of youth in upholding transparent and accountable governance. Syed Raza particularly encouraged participants, especially students, to recognize their potential as leaders, trusting and making decisions that align with leaders of high moral standing and honesty. He emphasized that integrity is an indispensable trait for effective leadership, and without it, true leadership cannot be achieved.
Furthermore, Syed Raza highlighted the societal role in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, emphasizing their paramount importance. He noted the prevalent societal pressure on youth to prioritize academic achievements over moral values, Sshedding light on the need to re-evaluate these priorities. He questioned the acceptance of corruption as an inherent part of the system and advocated for the promotion of core values centered around transparency. In doing so, he ignited a call to action for all to collectively work towards a system where transparency and integrity thrives.
Subsequently, Ms. Amna Kausar, Senior Projects Manager at PILDAT Pakistan, illuminated the topic of “Empowering Democracy and Rule of Law via Youth Engagement.” Ms. Kausar urged the youth to proactively participate in the democratic process to drive positive transformations. She spotlighted that PILDAT, a leading research institution in Pakistan, is dedicated to enhancing democracy, governance, and public policy. She stressed the significance of RTI awareness and highlighted a limited public understanding of such laws. Ms. Kausar also underscored the untapped potential of the youth that often goes unrecognized by key government stakeholders.
After that a Breakout activity was organized for the students. The activity was conducted by Mr. Ashfaque Ahmed, Project Coordinator Transparency International Pakistan. During the breakout discussion, participants brainstormed ideas on different topics and provided their recommendations on strengthening participation of young people in decision-making.
After the tea break, the session resumed with the presentation of Director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) KP, Mr. Nisar Ahmad Khan. He provided an overview of FIA’s Role in the Fight Against Corruption, encouraging collaborative efforts to combat corruption. He outlined the areas and mechanisms in which the FIA operates, defining its jurisdiction and briefed youth about the mechanisms which exist for the general public to reach out to FIA for registering complaints.
Moving, Syed Hussain Haider, Global Integrity Expert from UNODC Pakistan, delivered an enlightening talk on “The Role of Youth in Promoting Transparent, Accountable Governance, and Curbing Corruption.” His address emphasized the indispensable contribution of young people in the fight against corruption. He emphasized on the importance of empowering the voices of the youth. He acknowledged the feeling of voicelessness that many young individuals experience, where they witness societal injustices and lack opportunities but feel unable to make a difference.
Prof. Syed Hussain Haider urged the youth to overcome their fear of speaking out and not let their voices remain suppressed. He encouraged them to form youth clubs and societies, continuously raising their concerns and protesting against injustices. He assured them that with persistence, their voices would eventually be heard resulting in bringing about a positive change.
Afterwards, Mr. Muhammad Zeb Khan, District & Session Judge and Head of the Inspection Commission at Peshawar High Court, delivered remarks on Rule of Law. He emphasized the paramount role of youth engagement in fostering a secure and protected society. Mr. Zeb Khan dismissed prevailing misconceptions about the judiciary, underscoring its pivotal significance within the framework of governance. He explained the judicial system and its functions and emphasized the judiciary’s autonomous status as an independent entity.
Next, Mr. Mian Muhammad Waqar, Director (A&P) Wing, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Peshawar, gave a detailed presentation on the accountability procedures, enlightening participants about its crucial significance. Mian Waqar delivered a thorough outline of NAB’s endeavors in combatting corruption, emphasizing its mission to eradicate corruption through a holistic strategy encompassing prevention, awareness, monitoring, and active enforcement. He urged the youth to embody personal integrity and actively contribute to the advancement of good governance and the battle against corruption.
Moving on, Ms. Huda Bhurgri, Gender & Equality Advisor at GIZ Pakistan, delivered a compelling presentation on “Safeguarding Women’s Rights and Enhancing Their Participation in the Political Sphere.” Her discourse underscored the vital importance of inclusivity and representation of women in governance. Ms. Bhurgri shared several pertinent statistical insights that shed light on gender-based discrimination. Furthermore, she discussed the complexities of the domestic workforce’s informal economy. She emphasized the persisting deprivation of fundamental rights of women in the society, encompassing aspects like hurdles in obtaining national identity cards, securing property rights, engaging in political processes, and combating issues like cyberbullying and online harassment. Ms. Bhurgri emphasized the pressing need for a transformative change in mindset and acknowledged that while the legal framework exists, the effective implementation of these laws remains a challenge.
Towards the end, Q&A session was held where participants highlighted the need for addressing corruption and asked questions from different speakers. It provided opportunity for the students to get their voices across, allowed for a meaningful engagement and contribute their perspectives on the crucial issues.
The conference reached its culmination with Advocate Hashmat Habib, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, and a Board of Trustee, TI Pakistan delivering closing remarks. His concluding words resonated with the profound influence of the youth’s proactive engagement in cultivating transparency and accountability, pivotal for a society free from corruption. He urged fellow youth to embark on this journey with unwavering determination and steadfast resolve, emphasizing that the impetus for change begins within us. Advocate Hashmat Habib reminded us that the actions we take today will be the cornerstone in shaping the world we inherit tomorrow.
Transparency International Pakistan extended its gratitude to all the esteemed speakers, participants, and partners for making the conference a resounding success and reaffirmed the commitment to a more transparent and accountable Pakistan. The certificates of participation were also distributed among the participants.
