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Transforming a university conflict into a student development platform Dr. Shahbaz Israr Khan June 11, 2013 Published by Peace and Conflict Monitor  Link: http://www.monitor.upeace.org/innerpg.cfm?id_article=990   In this article, Dr. Khan tells the story of how the student council of Gomal University was formed to mediate a conflict between two student societies, and eventually became a way for students to break down the barriers between them and play a meaningful role in the administration of the university. The conflict I am discussing here is an experience that my team and I, as a president of a student council [1] , had mediated and transformed at Gomal University, Pakistan, in 2008. Gomal University is located in Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KP) province of Pakistan and receives students from all four provinces of the country and also from other countries like Sudan, Kenya, Nepal, Egypt, Syria are among few to mention. Most of the st...

Data tabulation: ‘Province lacks groups focused on youth’     Data tabulation: ‘Province lacks groups focused on youth’ By Our Correspondent Published: May 6, 2013 Share this article Print this page Email As many as 14 districts in the Punjab have no youth organisations at all,” says Shahbaz Israr Khan. DESIGN: SUNARA NIZAMI/FILE LAHORE:  “There is a dearth of youth-focused and youth-led organisations in many districts in the province. As many as 14 districts in the Punjab have no youth organisations at all,” said Bargad Programme Officer Shahbaz Israr Khan. Dr Khan has a degree in Gender and Peace Building from the UN  University for Peace. He led a team to develop the first ever Youth Directory, which aims to collate data on all youth organisations and informal groups in the country. The first volume was released last month by Bargad, an NGO working for the development of the youth. The project funded by a...

Pakistan has the 6 th largest population in the world and will surpass Brazil and Malaysia till 2045. This population has a large segment of youth, the term known as youth bulge. The issue of youth becomes increasingly important when youth outnumbers other segments of the society and in this situation it is necessary to channelize the energies of youth and provide them platforms and opportunities, so they can effectively participate and contribute to the development of the country. For youth empowerment a policy framework is essential which can bring integrated youth development in the country. After 18 th amendment in the constitution of Pakistan, youth is a provincial subject and the each province has to formulate its youth policy. Bargad and UNFPA have already provided technical assistance to the government of Punjab to formulate the youth policy of the province. It was successfully launched in June 2012. The organizations   are facilitating the governments of Khyber Pak...

At the Side of the Road- Our Future Pakistan: December 11, 2012 : At the outskirts of Jaffarabad (a flood affected area in Balochistan), on the side of the road, I found two children, hardly five years old, collecting something from a heap of garbage. I went to them and observed what they were doing. They were picking iron pieces from a heap of garbage. On inquiring they told that they earn 20 rupees (Quarter US Dollar) after the whole day work. Their homes were destroyed by recent floods and had to work to earn for their homes. I was so sad to see the future of Pakistan at the side of the road picking some iron pieces. Balochistan government has still not made international appeal   for the flood affectees and civil society is silent. There are thousands of families who are perishing and our future is collecting pieces of iron. Is it not a moment to think!!!!

In addition to research in Kenya, He has also facilitated BYES to design research on youth and democracy in Bangladesh. One of his researches, "Peace for All" presents an alternate gender sensitive approach to address the issues of youth in Pakistan. He also served Bargad as a lead researcher in mapping youth organizations, youth directory 2011, of Punjab and Islamabad Capital Territory. Youth directory 2011 is an authentic tool of networking and alliance building, which offers reference to policy and public practitioners to work with organized youth. It is a vital source on how many, where, which and what kind of youth bodies are working in Pakistan for the betterment of youth.

UPEACERs in Action UPEACE helped me to achieve what I always inspired for! UPEACE NEWSFLASH August 2012 Link http://www.upeace.org/news/newsflash/2012/august_2012.pdf by Shahbaz Israr Khan (Pakistan) | Gender and Peace Building Alumnus (2012) Since my childhood I used to dream of a world where everyone could live in peace, love and harmony with no discrimination at all. My wish for a peaceful world was further strengthened when I lost one of my best friends in a bomb blast. I still remember his smile and his bright eyes. Soon, I left my profession and adopted my passion, the passion for a peaceful world. Before coming to UPEACE, my concept of peace was vague. UPEACE provided me with an opportunity to interact with students of so many countries, to know their cultures, opinions and smiles, and to learn from the best faculty of the world. We all used to be very critical, and everyone used to give opinion. One thing I learnt from UPEACE is to respect everyone ideas and opinio...