PODA Observes International Youth Day 2026: Promoting Legal Identity, Youth Participation and Inclusion in Lahore and Karachi

PODA-Pakistan observed International Youth Day 2026 in the provincial capitals of Punjab and Sindh, with the facilitation of PODA focal persons Shamim Akhter and Darakhshan Sauleh. The activities brought together more than 70 women, young girls and boys and provided an opportunity to raise awareness about legal identity, civic participation, inclusion and equal citizenship.

Lahore: Raising Awareness on Legal Identity, Youth Participation and Inclusion

Tuesday, 11 August 2026: PODA-Pakistan, with the facilitation of Shamim Akhter, PODA Focal Person Lahore and Head of Happy City Foundation, observed International Youth Day 2026 at two locations, Chungi Amar Sadhu and Quaid-e-Millat Colony in Lahore, with the participation of 50 women and girls.

The awareness sessions focused on the importance of legal identity, particularly the Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), as a key foundation for meaningful youth participation in democratic processes. Participants discussed how a CNIC enables citizens to exercise essential civic rights, including voter registration, participation in elections and engagement with local government institutions.

The sessions also highlighted the importance of protecting legal identity and ensuring that young women and girls are not excluded from civic and democratic life. Participants discussed how legal identity serves as an essential gateway to accessing rights, services and opportunities for active citizenship.

The observance also coincided with National Minorities’ Day on 11 August, providing an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of equality, inclusion and equal citizenship for all. The sessions emphasized that every citizen should have the opportunity to obtain legal identity, exercise their rights and participate fully in democratic life.

Karachi: International Youth Day with the Fisherfolk Community of Lyari

In Karachi, PODA-Pakistan observed International Youth Day 2026 with young people from the fisherfolk community of Lyari, with the facilitation of Darakhshan Sauleh, PODA Focal Person Karachi. The activity provided a platform for young women, girls and boys to discuss their civic rights, participation and the importance of inclusion in community and democratic processes.

The Karachi activity extended the message of youth participation and equal citizenship to the fisherfolk community, encouraging young people to understand their civic rights and recognize their role in contributing to and shaping their communities.

The International Youth Day 2026 activities were organized under PODA’s project “Promoting Civic Leadership and Participation,” supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). Through these activities, PODA reaffirmed its commitment to empowering young people, particularly young women and girls, with knowledge of their legal identity, civic rights and opportunities to participate meaningfully in democratic life.