ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (APP):The Centre for Development and Sta
bility (CDA), youth-centric think tank focussing educated youth, media, expert
s and intelligentsia, has been launched with the prime goal of providing a national dialogue platform to resolve pressing issue
s and channelise innovation to improve governan
ce and nation building.
The Centre for Development and Sta
bility was launched here at the Ripah University Islamabad Campus under the slogan “empowering innovation for sustainable growth and sta
bility.”
Speaking on the occasion, Director General of CDS, Dr Irfan Ashraf said the country was lagging in the field of research on pressing issues like terrorism, one of the biggest scourge faced by the nation. “Our vision is to conduct and provide research on economic and geopolitical issues by approaching educated youth, young student
s and media persons to navigate their innovative ideas for outcome-oriented endeavours.
“Our youth is directly affected by unemployment and poor performance of political leadership and government
s and the international hostile powers are exploiting such fault lines to divide and spoil the nation,” he added.
Dr Irfan Ashraf underlined that under the CDS platform field visit
s and interactions with stakeholders in Balochistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Sindh and would also take vice-chancellors of various universities on board and generate a direct debate between policymaker
s and the youth.
“We will try to bridge the gap between youth and policymakers. We welcome all research idea
s and surveys, and encourage everyone to take part in CDS activities,” he added.
The Centre, he said would take the initiative to research policy problems provide possible solution
s and offer policy advice to government officials for informed decision-making.
The platform would also combat the challenge of disinformation address pressing issue
s and underline urgent needs, such as Pakistan’s water crisis, climate change and economic deterioration, he added.
The Forum would provide accurate and timely reports founded on ground-based research, fact
s and data related to global conflict
s and tensions, explore root causes of poor governan
ce and national integration through inclusive initiative
s and youth mobilisation, he said.
The key research would focus on geopolitical development, industrial sector challenges, water and energy crises, tourism, mine
s and minerals potential, road infrastructure improvement, climate change impacts, refugee crisis, trade and economic policies, terrorism and cyber security, Dr Irfan said.
“The CDS will hold international events with the country’s diplomatic missions on board, will launch exchange programmes for university students at the international level and engage national level experts for our solution-oriented reports,” he said.
Dr Irfan mentioned that the Centre would also provide support to students through short documentaries, interview
s and movie-making, whereas the research authors will be given complete credit for their publications under the proud slogan of work for positivity and empowerment of youth.
Under the patronage of Brig (R) Asif Haroon Raja, the Centre would welcome everyone to work voluntarily as this organization was a not-for-profit forum, he said.
Meanwhile, the CDS signed its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ripah University and Youth Council to promote its objective of youth-led think tank
s and policy research initiatives.
Patron in Chief, CDS, Brig (R) Asif Haroon Raja extended his felicitations to Dr Irfan Ashraf for launching the Centre and commended the passion of participant
s and appreciated Dr Irfan’s works for highlighting Balochistan’s issues.
He said the Forum was the right place for national ideas for national service as at present, Pakistan was suffering from the battle of minds (referring to information warfare) as perceptions were being manufactured and spread across the world against the country.
The monopoly of Western media is dominating the information landscape whereas India and Israel are causing subversion attempts against Pakistan,” he said.
The Western world was ageing and the country had the biggest asset of youth that was becoming a lia
bility due to lack of proper facilitie
s and forums to utilize their abilities, he said.
“It’s a platform where we can put in our apolitical efforts with national spirit in mind, as 1000 think-tanks are supporting the US for its policy and development and endeavour
s and we also need to change our attitude
s and think forward to serve our nation in the same spirit,” he added.
