A online meeting was held between the Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP) and the Commonwealth Secretariat. The meeting, which focused on advancing youth empowerment initiatives, was attended by key representatives from both parties and led by Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and Professor Luis Franceschi, Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
During the meeting, Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan warmly welcomed Professor Luis Franceschi, the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, and expressed his appreciation for Professor Franceschi’s continued engagement with the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP). The Chairman also extended heartfelt condolences on the passing of His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga, the former Prime Minister of Kenya. He acknowledged Mr. Odinga's outstanding contributions as a distinguished leader and statesman, whose legacy continues to inspire across Africa and beyond.
Professor Luis Franceschi is the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Founding Dean of Strathmore University Law School in Kenya.
The meeting provided a platform for discussing the future of youth development in the Commonwealth, with particular emphasis on continued collaboration in areas such as the Youth Development Index, Esports Policy, and the evaluation of the PM Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme. Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan expressed sincere gratitude to the Commonwealth for its ongoing support in these initiatives and emphasized Pakistan’s strong commitment to actively working as co-chair of the Commonwealth Youth Ministerial Taskforce. He highlighted Pakistan’s dedication to empowering youth across the Commonwealth and the importance of continued collaboration.
In addition, the Chairman expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming visit of the new Commonwealth Secretary-General, Hon. Shirley Botchwey, to Pakistan, and conveyed hopes that this visit would further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation on youth development initiatives. He also looked forward to the upcoming Taskforce Meeting in Malaysia, expecting it to be a significant opportunity to deepen collaboration with the Commonwealth and further advance youth development globally.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss technical assistance in areas such as the design and implementation of policies related to National Youth Employment, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Climate Resilience through the PMYP’s National Volunteer Corp Project.
Looking forward, both parties expressed their shared commitment to empowering youth and addressing global challenges together. The Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP) remains dedicated to uplifting youth and is eager to continue its collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat to create a brighter, more resilient future for young people worldwide.
