ISLAMABAD, JUL 23 /DNA/ – The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) hosted an insightful seminar titled “Inclusion, Diversity, and Rights: A Dialogue with Youth Experts” on July 23, 2025. The event brought together leading voices from the government and civil society to explore how Pakistan can address the urgent challenges confronting its youth.

Moderated by Dr. Fizzah Khalid Butt, Assistant Professor at PIDE, the discussion featured three distinguished panelists: Ms. Uzma Yaqoob (Executive Director, Forum for Dignity Initiatives), Mr. Ahmed Sultan Butt (Special Assistant to the Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives), and Ms. Huma Jehangir (Program Implementation Lead, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates).

Ms. Uzma Yaqoob began the discussion by addressing the complexities of youth marginalization in Pakistan. While the often-cited statistic that 65% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30 is viewed as a demographic advantage, she argued that this potential remains largely untapped due to systemic issues such as poverty, regional inequality, lack of mental health support, and discriminatory social structures.

 She emphasized that youth from diverse backgrounds—particularly those with disabilities, from religious minorities, or from the transgender community—face multiple layers of exclusion. Uzma criticized the state for relying on superficial policies without dedicated financial support and called for inclusive, well-funded, and actionable frameworks that can address the real needs of young people.

She stressed that the government should move beyond rhetoric and ensure meaningful representation, particularly in policymaking, education, and climate discourse.

Representing the government’s perspective, Mr. Ahmed Sultan Butt detailed the official vision for youth development under the “URAAN’ Pakistan” initiative, which outlines a strategic roadmap through 2029. This vision focuses on five key pillars: transitioning to an export-led economy, promoting clean energy, embracing the digital revolution, building resilience to climate change, and fostering ethics and equity.

 Ahmed Khalid Butt highlighted government programs such as the Young Peace and Development Corps, which aims to engage one million youth in civic dialogue and skill-building through university-based chapters. He also discussed large-scale investments in Centers of Excellence in fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and industrial automation. These initiatives, he said, are designed to make youth employment-ready while also shifting the state’s approach from job patronage to empowerment and service delivery.

Responding to audience concerns, Mr. Ahmed acknowledged the need for safe and walkable cities and emphasized the importance of local governance in ensuring inclusive urban planning and effective service delivery.

Ms. Huma Jehangir addressed the dire state of youth health in Pakistan, especially the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes. Alarmingly, over 33 million people in Pakistan suffer from diabetes, with a significant portion under the age of 30.

Despite some government interventions like health cards and cardiovascular centers, the mental health crisis remains neglected. She pointed out that educational institutions lack even basic counseling units, while community-level support systems are nonexistent. Huma emphasized the urgent need to recognize mental health as a public health crisis and to treat equity—not equality—as the central principle of policy design.

Different youth segments face different challenges, and interventions must be tailored to reflect this diversity, particularly in underprivileged regions like Balochistan.

Throughout the seminar, panelists stressed that real inclusion must be structural, not symbolic. Inclusion cannot be limited to urban, educated, able-bodied youth; it must encompass students, domestic workers, child laborers, and marginalized communities. Ms. Uzma Yaqoob passionately advocated for the political participation of transgender individuals, including dedicated seats in provincial and national assemblies.

She challenged the audience and policymakers alike to question whether institutions are truly ready to be inclusive—not just in rhetoric, but in infrastructure, faculty training, and policy execution.

The panel also discussed the role of NGOs and civil society organizations as vital actors in youth engagement, particularly given their access to grassroots communities. However, she lamented the growing suspicion and resistance faced by NGOs, which hinders their ability to support youth effectively.

Audience raised critical questions about linguistic diversity, walkability of cities, and how to measure the actual impact of government initiatives. In response, Ahmed Sultan Butt reiterated that inclusive urban planning is being addressed through task forces and reforms in ICT governance. He emphasized that political stability, continuity of policy, and devolution of power to local governments are prerequisites for meaningful reform.

On the issue of transgender inclusion, both Mr. Ahmed and Ms. Uzma stressed the importance of national identity registration as a gateway to access education, health, and economic opportunities.

In conclusion, all panelists agreed that while numerous youth-focused initiatives exist, their effectiveness depends on implementation, monitoring, and alignment with ground realities. They called for policy design that is participatory, inclusive, and grounded in equity.

Dr. Fizzah Khalid Butt closed the session by highlighting that Pakistan’s youth represent immense potential, but without responsive policies and inclusive practices, this demographic dividend could turn into a liability. The seminar was a call to action for academia, policymakers, and civil society to co-create an environment where all young people—regardless of gender, ability, region, or economic status—can thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development.=DNA

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Minister Distances Himself from Gorakh Hills Audit Scandal, Blames Predecessor

Tourism Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah says no funds were spent during his tenure; blames ex-Chairman PPP MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali for financial mismanagement.

By Nazir Siyal / DNA

KARACHI: An important meeting regarding the Gorakh Hill Station was chaired by Sindh Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah.

The meeting was attended by the acting secretary, Director General of Gorakh Hill Station, MD Tourism, and other concerned officials.

The participants expressed grief over recent unfortunate incidents involving tourists in northern areas and offered prayers for the deceased.

Minister Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah was briefed on the current situation of Gorakh Hill Station, including developmental works and funding, after the dissolution of the Gorakh Hill Authority.

The Minister issued strict instructions for action against corruption and irregularities in Gorakh Hill Station’s funds.

He revealed that no new budget or funds have been issued since the hill station was merged into the Department of Culture and Tourism.

Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah clarified that since the merger, no new corruption cases have surfaced.

He emphasized that the Auditor General’s report highlighting irregularities is from two years ago, during the time when Gorakh Hill operated as an independent authority.

He announced that the Culture and Tourism Department has decided to refer past corruption matters related to Gorakh Hill to the Anti-Corruption Establishment and NAB (National Accountability Bureau).

Furthermore, he stated that the recruitment of surplus employees at the hill station has been canceled and inquiries have been initiated.

Strict action is being taken against officers, contractors, and employees found involved in corruption.

With the special attention of Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, a highway-style road is being constructed to improve access to Gorakh Hill Station.

The Minister also highlighted that under the Public-Private Partnership model, providing better facilities and resources for tourists remains a top priority.

Amid a damning audit exposing massive financial irregularities at the Gorakh Hills Station Authority, while, exclusively talking to a Senior Journalist, Sindh’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, has publicly distanced himself from the scandal, attributing all questionable transactions to the tenure of former Chairman and PPP MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali.

In a formal statement, Minister Shah clarified that he took charge as Chairman of the Authority only a year ago and has not utilized even a single rupee from the Rs 250 million grant allocated to the Authority under his leadership. “No payments have been made during my tenure, neither to contractors, daily wage staff, nor to any contract employees,” he stated.

He further noted that no official meetings of the Gorakh Hills Authority have taken place during his chairmanship, reinforcing his stance of non-involvement in any of the audit-flagged transactions.

Minister Shah affirmed that while the Culture and Tourism Department’s other projects have been executed with transparency and in full compliance with rules, Gorakh Hills remains the only project under audit scrutiny. “This is precisely why I have chosen to stay away from its financial operations,” he asserted.

Turning attention to future plans, Shah emphasized his vision to develop Gorakh Hills through a public-private partnership.

He shared that, at his request, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved a new road project to Gorakh Hills, which will be executed by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) with provincial government funding.

The Minister also highlighted his ongoing efforts to promote tourism, citing his recent visits to Fort Munro and Koh-e-Murree as part of a broader strategy to develop new destinations and infrastructure to boost domestic and international tourism.

The statement comes as the audit report accuses the Gorakh Hills Authority of awarding fake contracts, overspending by billions, avoiding taxes, and failing to deliver on ground despite years of funding.

The total audit-flagged mismanagement is estimated at over Rs 17 billion.

Minister Shah’s distancing signals potential political tension within PPP ranks, as accountability questions mount and pressure builds for judicial inquiry and recovery of funds misused under previous administrations.

Audit reveals Rs 38.5 million awarded to four contractors sharing the same address; Rs 3 billion spent with little on-ground development; gross violations in procurement, tax evasion, and overpayments totaling over Rs 17 billion.

By Nazir Siyal

KARACHI: A massive financial scandal has rocked the Gorakh Hills Development Authority (GHDA), exposing deep-rooted corruption, fake contracts, and gross mismanagement of over Rs 17 billion in public funds.

A government audit of the past eight years has revealed alarming irregularities in project execution, procurement practices, and payments, with little to no visible development on the ground.

At the center of the scandal, four major contractors, Mahewish Shaukat, Muhammad Ali Chauhan, Majid Ali Chauhan, and Rashid Ali Chauhan, received contracts worth Rs 38.5 million.

Shockingly, all four are registered at the same address, House No. 1, Jail Road, PIB Colony, Karachi.

This raises serious questions of collusion and conflict of interest.

Despite a formal audit notice issued on April 10, the Authority failed to respond.

The audit further revealed that the GHDA bypassed tax deductions, including Rs 10 million in stamp duty and Rs 24.3 million in general sales tax, causing significant losses to the exchequer.

Despite receiving Rs 3.046 billion for the development of summer resorts, there has been minimal progress, this amount, Rs 2.868 billion was spent, but no record exists for the remaining Rs 177.8 million.

Procurement procedures were flouted, essential documentation was missing, and standard bidding protocols under SPPRA were ignored.

Worse still, expenditures for incomplete projects ballooned to Rs 9.9 billion nearly triple the original cost, resulting in an excess of Rs 7.36 billion. Equipment worth Rs 60 million was procured at rates grossly inflated by up to 218%.

In one case, a secured advance of nearly Rs 60 million was released to contractors without delivery of material, documentation, or approval.

Another Rs 2.8 billion was lost after a key contract was cancelled post 94% payment for partially completed work, leaving the project abandoned.

The scandal deepens with the award of a Rs 216.6 million tender to M/s FIM Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, a firm that submitted fake documents and lacked required experience.

The audit report also notes Rs 2.3 billion in unverified repair works and Rs 346 million paid to a blacklisted contractor who illegally demolished parts of the historic Pucca Fort in Hyderabad.

Revisions of project schemes worth Rs 859 million were carried out multiple times within two years, violating planning guidelines and raising suspicion of manipulation for contractor benefit.

Adding to the list of malpractices is the non-deduction of Rs 24.8 million in taxes and duties, further highlighting administrative negligence.

The Departmental Accounts Committee (DAC), in its January 2025 meeting, directed the Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department to provide records and fix responsibility. However, no satisfactory replies or documents were produced until the finalization of the report.

The audit strongly recommends a high-level judicial inquiry and strict accountability, warning that such malpractices threaten public trust and undermine institutional credibility.

Total Audit-Flagged Irregularities, over Rs 17 billion and Status of Development Projects observed largely Incomplete
Response from GHDA authorities sources as well as non-cooperative
Audit Recommendation,  Immediate inquiry, recovery of funds, and prosecution of those responsible.

When asked the official statement by Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, on Audit Irregularities at Gorakh Hills Station Authority, he tried to fistance Himself from Gorakh Hills Audit Scandal, Blames Predecessor

Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, addressed concerns regarding irregularities highlighted in the audit report of the Gorakh Hills Station Authority.

He clarified that all the financial transactions under scrutiny occurred during the tenure of PPP MNA Rafiq Ahmed Jamali, who previously served as the Chairman of the Authority.

Minister Shah emphasized that he assumed the role of Chairman only one year ago and has not utilized a single rupee from the Rs. 25 crore grant allocated to the Authority.

He stated that no payments have been made under his tenure to any contractors, daily wage workers, or contract employees.

Furthermore, he pointed out that no meetings related to the Gorakh Hills Station Authority have taken place during his tenure.

He added that all other expenditures under the Department of Culture and Tourism have been handled transparently and in accordance with the rules.

However, the Gorakh Hills project is the only one where audit issues have been raised, which is why he has chosen to distance himself from it.

Highlighting his commitment to developing tourism across Pakistan, Minister Shah mentioned his visits to several key tourist destinations, including Fort Munro and Koh-e-Murree.

He expressed his desire to develop Gorakh Hills through a public-private partnership model. On his request, the Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, approved a budget for the construction of a road leading to Gorakh Hills.

This project will be executed by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) with funding from the Sindh Government.