YLC (Young Leaders’ Conference) 2013 Khalbali- The Creative Restlessness

The Young Leaders’ Conference, 2013 commenced today at Dream World Resort amidst great fanfare and enthusiasm. This 12^th successive annual conference, by School of Leadership, was themed around “Khalbali-The Creative Restlessness”. The conference offers dynamic experiential education that focuses on economic development along with the opportunity to learn from and exchange ideas with national and international top business leaders, government representatives, diplomats, policy-makers, lobbyists, journalists and academics. 
During coming 7 days, 350 youth will participate and emerge as empowered and highly informed individuals. The inauguration ceremony was an elegant affair braced by the presence of the Chief Guest, Shoaib Siddique; Commissioner Karachi. The Chief Guest addressed the young audience regarding the crucial role youth must take for the development of their communities.
He advised youth to educate themselves and build their capacity and then contribute back to Pakistan.
Partners and stakeholders from the media, corporate and government sector as well as 350 energetic participants, between the ages 18 to 24, representing 23 regions (rural and urban) of Pakistan, graced the occasion. English Biscuit Manufacturers are this year’s platinum sponsor, as they have been in the previous ten years. Lead sponsors of the conference were Karachi Youth Initiative, British Council and Greenstar. In partnership are also Dawn News, Thal Engineering, TCS, Fauji Fertilizer, Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited, Stile, Suzuki, Youth Ministry, Frierich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and Shamrock Communications as the official PR company. After the inauguration ceremony, the guests shared their success stories with participants in groups to mentor them to face challenges and rise above disappointments and failures.
Ms Qurat-ul-Ain Awan and Mujtaba Saadi Makhdoom, YLC graduates, are heading the project. The conference is designed to inspire, educate and motivate participants with the opportunity to explore cultural differences firsthand; identify and face tough challenges; build confidence; stretch and expand capacity and enhance decision-making skills. Participants undertake rigorous debates on contemporary issues of international and national importance; self-development and capacity building activities. With briefing from experts, participants will be able to pinpoint problems and explore solutions which they will implement till at least three months after the conference as execution of their learning, which will help them earn their YLC certificate.