ISLAMABAD, Oct 16 (APP):Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday urged young people to move beyond criticism and develop practical, sustainable solutions to Pakistan’s social and economic challenges through the National Youth Solution Sprint 2026, Round Two, under the Banu Shaheen initiative.
“Pakistan’s greatest strength is its youth. Our objective is to transform young people from critics of problems into solution providers who can play a meaningful role in national development,” the minister said while addressing the event.
He stressed that understanding the root causes of problems was essential to developing effective and sustainable solutions, adding that success depended not merely on proposing ideas but also on translating them into practical action.
During the second round of the National Youth Solution Sprint 2026, student teams explored critical social challenges, including drug abuse, population growth, access to clean drinking water and sanitation, out-of-school children, and malnutrition.
Team leads outlined the challenges associated with each issue and proposed community-level activities and actionable interventions to generate positive and sustainable impact.
Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that young people must develop solutions in line with Pakistan’s ground realities, available resources and local needs to ensure their ideas delivered tangible results beyond presentations.
He also highlighted the importance of communication, leadership and other life skills alongside technical knowledge, noting that these capabilities were essential for turning ideas into meaningful outcomes.
The minister said young people should be engaged in addressing national challenges from their student years and connected with the country’s development agenda through constructive participation rather than being used for political agendas.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to nurturing a generation of young leaders capable of contributing positively across all sectors.
The National Youth Solution Sprint aims to place young people at the centre of problem-solving by equipping them with the tools, methodologies and platforms needed to contribute to national development.
The initiative would also provide a continuous platform for innovation and policy engagement through monthly innovation sprints, TED-style talks, policy labs and “Dragons’ Den”-style pitches, enabling participants to refine their ideas, test solutions, engage with experts and present innovative proposals.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
