Saad Sohail
D I KHAN: A youth-led event on climate change and policy has started in Dera Ismail Khan. Young leaders, climate experts, and important guests from across Pakistan have come together to share ideas and plan better ways to protect the environment.
The event is organized by BARGAD Organization for Youth Development in collaboration with the Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) and the British Council. It features broad participation from youth representatives, parliamentarians, academics, persons with disabilities and environmental professionals from across the country.
Sabiha Shaheen, Executive Director of BARGAD, emphasized the organization’s commitment to inclusive policymaking led by youth voices.
“Young people are not just future leaders they are already agents of change. Through this consultation, we’re ensuring that voices from underserved and climate-vulnerable regions help shape national discourse and policy. Involving young people shouldn’t just be for show — their participation should be a real part of the system.
The event brought together high-profile stakeholders, with notable experts and advocates in attendance, including Khadija, Commonwealth Youth Delegate; Dr Sadaf Javeria, Associate Professor and climate expert from Gomal University; Prof Dr Rubina Naz, former Dean of Sciences at Gomal University; Muhammad Asif Kundi, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, KP Forest Department; and Muhammad Fazal Rehman, Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Sahar Sohail, PhD Scholar in Environmental Sciences and Chief Organizer of the Youth Consultation, highlighted the importance of evidence-based youth participation: “This isn’t just another discussion we are building a bridge between youth-led action and policy impact. Our generation is already responding to climate threats; now we need structural support to scale those solutions.
The experts emphasized the need to equip young people with climate knowledge, financial resources to support their initiatives, and leadership opportunities
The consultation is part of a broader national initiative under PYLI, aimed at strengthening youth capacities, advancing policy dialogue, and identifying actionable pathways for climate resilience across Pakistan.
