Ahsan Launches ‘Youth Ideation Lab’ To Turn Young Minds Into Problem-Solvers
ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Sep, 2026)
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, on Tuesday launched the ‘Youth Ideation Lab’ to harness the intellect, skills, and practical experiences of young people for developing workable solutions to Pakistan’s national challenges.
Addressing the launch ceremony, the minister stated that the Lab aimed to transform young individuals from mere complainants into contributors who could identify problems and propose practical solutions.
“We cannot fix the problem by complaining. We have to fix it,” he stressed, emphasizing that youth should become part of the solution rather than perpetuating the problem.
Ahsan noted that the fundamental responsibility of the Ministry of Planning and Development was to plan for the country’s future and formulate development programs. However, these initiatives would only be effective with the ownership and participation of the generation most impacted by these decisions—the youth of Pakistan.
“The real stakeholders of Pakistan are the youth of Pakistan because this is their future, which is at stake,” he underscored, highlighting the need to involve young people in the country’s development discourse and planning, giving due consideration to their views and aspirations.
He explained that the Youth Ideation Lab would serve as a platform to gather the intellect and skills of young individuals, fostering the generation of practical ideas for tackling some of Pakistan’s seemingly “unsolvable problems.”
The minister clarified that participants were not merely invited to attend lectures but to actively express their views and apply their abilities to address national challenges.
“We need more than presentations. We need workable ideas, solutions,” he said, adding that valuable insights could also emerge from individuals with practical wisdom and firsthand experience of these problems.
Ahsan revealed that the government had already launched various programs to engage young people in development discourse, such as the Young Development Fellows program and the Young Peace and Development course in universities.
He called for Pakistan’s national discourse to focus on issues shaping the future rather than dwelling on debates about the past. “The biggest challenge today is education for every nation,” he highlighted, emphasizing the need to examine the future of education in light of the artificial intelligence revolution, strengthen innovation, and align the economy with emerging challenges.
Ahsan urged young people to steer clear of conflicts irrelevant to Pakistan’s future and to instead channel their energies towards constructive contributions.