Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) launched in a ceremony at the Higher Education Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan

The British Council Pakistan, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), launched the Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) in a ceremony in Islamabad, Pakistan. PYLI is a three-year project led by British Council Pakistan, which will be implemented in Pakistan in collaboration with the Government of Pakistan’s Prime Minister Youth Development Programme, Higher Education Commission, UNDP Pakistan, WaterAid Pakistan, Viamo, ISD UK, local CSOs, and public universities. 

WaterAid, collaborating with academic institutions and local organisations, will train 14 master facilitators and 140 facilitators, reaching 16,000 young adults across four provinces in Pakistan on the nexus of climate change and WASH through digital and blended learning. The programme will also empower 12 recent graduates, particularly females, through its Professional Development Programme (PDP), connecting them with opportunities to influence policies and decision-making in the climate change and WASH sectors.

The ceremony was graced by Dr. Paul Thompson, Chair of the British Council, Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman of the Higher Education Commission, and James Hampson, Country Director, British Council Pakistan.

Furqan Ahmed, Interim Country Director of WaterAid Pakistan, expressed pride in WaterAid’s role in the newly launched project, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to addressing climate problems and taking prompt action to prevent the effects of climate change in Pakistan.

Dr. Shakeel Hayat, Head of Climate Change and WASH Programmes at WaterAid Pakistan, said, “Under this project, WaterAid will train young women and men to have a better understanding of climate change and take action to use acquired knowledge and skills in social action or within the context of their economic activities. WaterAid will also provide technical assistance and support in the implementation of youth-led actions like tree plantation, water conservation, renewable energy, climate education, and solid waste management.”