UNESCO Islamabad, in collaboration with the Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO (PNCU) and with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), celebrated International Youth Day 2025 under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond” at the National Skills University. The event brought together young leaders, government representatives, UN agencies, and development partners to recognize and amplify the role of youth in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The celebration featured a vibrant line-up of activities, including an SDG Pledge Wall, a SDG-themed art competition, a cultural story circle, youth-led dialogues, and inspirational speeches from youth change-makers. The afternoon segment showcased instrumental performances, a youth quiz competition, and a cultural segment, fostering creativity, collaboration, and exchange among participants.

In his remarks, Mr. Fuad Pashavey, Head of the UNESCO Islamabad Office, emphasized that with over 60% of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but the change-makers of today. He highlighted examples of youth-led initiatives across Pakistan - from climate action and digital innovation to cultural heritage preservation - and stressed that youth must not only participate in development but shape it.

Mr. Pashavey also underscored UNESCO’s continued commitment to empowering young people through initiatives such as Smart Classrooms for girls’ education in remote areas, Radio Education Programme for hard-to-reach communities, the development of Pakistan’s first National Media and Information Literacy Strategy, and Global Citizenship Education (GCED) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) exchanges with APCEIU. He extended heartfelt thanks to Mr. Aftab Muhammad Khan, Secretary General of PNCU, for his leadership and dedication, and to the entire PNCU team for their tireless efforts in organizing the event. He also expressed appreciation to AICS for enabling impactful education and youth projects across the country.

The event concluded with an awards ceremony, recognizing outstanding contributions from youth participants, and a networking lunch connecting young leaders with government and UN representatives.

Through this celebration, UNESCO reaffirmed its dedication to standing with youth, listening to their voices, and working alongside them to transform ideas into impactful actions for a sustainable and inclusive future.