Students' Convention

(By Durdana Khosa, Lecturer English Dept.)

The Students' Convention is a historic event in the history of Pakistan. We have no example of such a gathering being assembled in the past as matters relating to the country's youth have seldom received any attention they deserve. Since 1999 a number of unprecedented policy initiatives have been introduced, and Students' Convention is yet another new initiative by the government of Pakistan to engage students of the nation in dialogue on pertinent issues. To bring them on a single platform. The philosophy behind Students' Convention is to understand how the youth of Pakistan can play a constructive role in the development of Pakistan and prepare prospective leaders that in future are a valuable assets to the country.

The objectives of the event are:

• To promote cultural integration among students

• To provide them a forum to share and exchange their views

The emphasis is on listening and engaging students into discussions during three thematic discussions. The first Convention was held in 2004 from 22 to 24 May in the Convention Centre, Islamabad, and so far three Conventions have been organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Over 100 top students participating in this mega event are drawn from all over the country; Azad Jammu Kashmir and Deeni Madaris on the basis of their performance in the contests arranged at regional and provincial levels.

Durdana Khosa and Farkhanda Shahid from the Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University were selected to participate in the First Students' Convention. The themes for the discussion in the First Convention were:

• Investment in education: an essential ingredient for development

• Extremism is a barrier to development

• Enlightened moderation is the key to globalization

The final day was presided over by the President of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharref, who announced on the occasion that 50 students from among the 100 will be selected to visit the Peoples Republic of China.

Six students from Balochistan were selected to be the part of delegation. From SBKWU, Durdana Khosa was selected to represent the University. It was a 15 days long trip to China. Basically, it was a ChinaPakistan Youth Friendly Exchange program with 100 member youth delegation to visit each other respectively.

So far, HEC has organized three events. Smaller Conventions on provincial level were organized to select students for the National Convention. Sardar Bahadur Khan Women's University had the honor of hosting the first and the second provincial Students' Convention in 2005; The Governor Balochistan Owais Ahmad Ghani was the Chief Guest on the second Convention. Students from different universities of the province participated in the event.

Students' Convention so far has proved to be a valuable learning experience for all delegates and observers and has opened new dimensions to their thought process.