In
pursuance to the objectives of the National Counter Extremism Policy, NACTA and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Pakistan have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding here today at Islamabad on 24th
November, 2017. The said MoU is signed to cooperate on outreach and development
in order to enhance the resilience, empowerment and citizenship engagement of
Pakistan’s youth – An integral component of the National Counter Extremism
Policy Pakistan to engagement of youth to counter violent extremism and
empowering them to be peace agents in society.
The MoU was signed by the NACTA
National Coordinator, Ihsan Ghani, and UNDP Pakistan Country Director, Ignacio
Artaza. The signing ceremony was attended by Ms. Marryam Khan Director General
CVE and Ms. Nida Anum Director PI.
Under its new National
Counter-Extremism Policy, NACTA will be supported by UNDP through a Youth
Internship Initiative. These initiatives will create opportunities for
Pakistani youth to gain experience in the public policy sector, understand how
policy development occurs, and promote collaboration and cooperation between
the State and its citizens. National Coordinator NACTA informed that “academics
remained an integral part of the formulation of NCEP”. He further said that
NACTA is already engaged with “HEC and academic institutions for engaging and
enlisting views of students and faculty regarding ways to build a more peaceful
and tolerant environment around us”. The Director General CVE, Ms. Marryam Khan
stated that “the policy envisions a whole of government and society response to
resolve problems relating to extremism and terrorism”.
“Young people have a crucial role to play in
meaningful public policy, social cohesion and sustainable development,” said Mr
Artaza, UNDP Pakistan Country Director. “This enhanced collaboration with NACTA
will help create the conditions for Pakistan’s youth to contribute to building
a peaceful and prosperous society.”
With around 60% percent of its young
population, Pakistan has the opportunity to build on the potential of this
large youth population through education, economic empowerment and engagement
to achieve sustainable development and prevent violence and conflict. UNDP’s
support to NACTA is part of its long-running Youth Empowerment Programme which
increases Pakistani youth’s resilience, civic engagement, entrepreneurship and
economic empowerment, in collaboration with federal and provincial governments,
development partners and the private sector.
