News
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Denmark supporting Youth Parliament ProgrammeISLAMABAD: Danish Ambassador to Pakistan Jesper Moller Sorensen said on Monday that Denmark was supporting the Youth Parliament Programme in Pakistan because the youth’s participation was important for democracy and civil empowerment.
While talking to a group of young aspiring parliamentarians, he said: “We are supporting the Youth Parliament Programme in Pakistan because you cannot talk about democracy or civil empowerment without engaging the youth.”
The Denmark government in collaboration with the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) supported the YPP.
He said: “Democracy is not something that only the West talks about or demands. The people of Pakistan want democracy too.”
The ambassador said: “As a politician, it is never easy to make everyone happy.”
He said compromise was the essence of decision-making in a democratic society. As politicians, you have to make decisions that have an impact on millions of people. That was no small responsibility, he added.
Moller said when you believe in a democracy, you believe in listening to other’s opinions, you believe in giving people the freedom to choose. You do not always have to agree with them, but you learn from others. He said most importantly you learn to seek the truth.
He said in Denmark, the education system teaches the youth that their opinion matters and can cast influence on policy and decision-makers.
PILDAT President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob said the YPP provided a platform to the Pakistani youth across provincial, religious, political and linguistic divides. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk