Abstract:
The Northern Provincial Council (NPC) has realized the necessity to formulate a
policy for its youth since its inception. Though several attempts were made to uplift
the lives of the youth and to encourage and expedite the social development process
based on the realization of the need for a youth policy, the NPC has realized that
the absence of an inclusive and comprehensive youth policy. Such policy needs to
addresses the challenges, the rights and responsibilities of the youth to implement
suitable projects based on the social, economic and cultural contexts of all the
severely war affected youth of the Province by sharing the available resources to
the optimum level. It would be a herculean task to streamline the youth into social,
economic, cultural and political mainstreams without formulating a youth policy. In
the present context of the NP, legal challenges regarding the high-unemployment rate,
frustration, non-participation in the socio-political activities, violence, alcohol and
drugs abuse, and the resultant fear and abhorrence proliferated among the people.
These threats that would impede the all domains of development of the whole
province are perceptible now. Further, it is presumed that any youth development
program or process implemented is neither producing the intended outcomes nor
causing the desired effects. Considering this context, Ministry of Education, Cultural
Affairs and Youth Affairs (NP) initiated the process of formulating a Youth Policy
with the support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the year
2016. This study investigates into the formulation and the potential challenges
insuch policy. A qualitative approach was employed with various stakeholders
working with youth communities in different capacities. Recommendations were
made in the draft policy in consideration with the international and national policies,
accommodating the unique nature of the social, cultural, economic, and political
fabric of the Northern Province.
