Three groundbreaking Pakistani projects have been selected among the 100 Excellence Actions for Global Youth Development (2025) at the World Youth Development Forum (WYDF), held in Suzhou, China, Gwadar Pro reported on Monday. The forum, themed “Unleashing Youth Potential for Global Development”, brought together youth ministers, leaders and young changemakers from over 100 countries and 17 international organizations to collaborate on sustainable solutions for the future.

The Action Plan for Global Youth Development (APGYD), a joint initiative by the All-China Youth Federation, United Nations agencies, and global youth organizations, recognized innovative projects contributing to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Since 2022, APGYD has honored 200 outstanding youth-led initiatives from 63 countries, spanning critical areas such as climate action, digital innovation, poverty alleviation and inclusive education.

Sher Shah Khan, founder of Skillistan, represented the country with his “SDG Impact Leaders Fellowship”, which trains young Pakistanis to drive community change aligned with global development goals. “At WYDF, we showcased Pakistan’s youth potential in AI, green economy, and heritage preservation,” Khan shared. “This platform helped us forge partnerships to scale our impact back home.” Nameera Irfan’s “From Earth to Fabric” initiative revives traditional block printing in Matiari, Sindh, empowering women displaced by climate crises.

“We’re preserving heritage while creating livelihoods for 50+ artisan women,” Irfan explained. “With global support, we’ll expand training, launch e-commerce exports, and turn Matiari into a cultural tourism hub.” Among the celebrated Pakistani projects was “Trash Has Value” by Entertech Laboratories Private Limited, which transforms plastic waste into eco-friendly tiles while creating jobs for informal waste collectors.

To date, this program has upgraded and transformed over 10,000 kilograms of electronic waste, produced solar energy storage systems that cover more than 500 households and small businesses. PakGPT Co-Founder and National Director of Pakistan AI Hackathon Farah Gul Rahuja also made waves by securing a top 10 spot in the forum's Acceleration Week. “China’s blend of tradition and technology is inspiring,” she remarked. “I’m eager to use AI to uplift marginalized communities in Pakistan while learning from China’s development journey.”

APGYD, backed by UN agencies such as UNESCO and UNICEF, continues to amplify youth-led solutions worldwide. These Pakistani projects highlight the country’s growing role in sustainable innovation. As Sher Shah Khan noted, “Young Pakistanis are proving that local actions can have global resonance—whether through recycling waste, preserving culture, or harnessing technology for good.”

Farah added, “This recognition isn’t just about awards; it’s a call to action. Together, we can make contributions to our communities.” With such initiatives leading the way, Pakistan’s youth are poised to shape a more sustainable and inclusive future.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP) — Pak-China