How provinces can present National Award???

Likely recipients resent plan to receive awards in provinces

Daily The News

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Myra Imran
Islamabad

Meant to encourage talented Pakistani youth for their extraordinary performance at national level, the National Youth Awards 2010 became a source of immense disappointment for the nominees as the Ministry of Youth Affairs (MoYA) failed to organise the ceremony before its was transferred to provinces.

Along with other four ministries, the Ministry of Youth Affairs has been transferred to provinces under 18th Amendment. The National Youth Award, held annually on the occasion of International Youth Day on July 12, were the third biggest activity of once MoYA. This years again, the procedure for nominations started as per schedule. Big advertisements were given in electronic and print media encouraging youth to apply.

According to ministry sources, around 4,000 nominations were received. Among them, 41 were announced winners by the jury and they were informed through official letters, which they received on August 6. “My family and I were very happy. On August 9, the ministry officials called to take the address and contact numbers of my parents so that they can become part of the ceremony,” said one of the nominees on condition of anonymity.

The Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) hall was booked and media was called but on the evening of August 11, just one day before the ceremony, the event was cancelled saying that the award ceremony had been postponed due to flood situation. “It was quite disappointing. The ministry officials said that nominees will soon receive new date for the event but it never happened,” said the nominee. The nominees kept contacting the ministry.

“Every time, they said that event will be held next week,” said another nominee Hanan Abbasi who is also the Chairman Youth Senate Pakistan. He said that a delegation of nominees met Federal Minister for Youth Affairs Shahid Hussain Bhutto on November 20, in which the minister ensured that award ceremony will be held in any condition. “But on December 9, they took the decision to shift awards to provinces,” he said. “It was only a matter of holding an event.” He said that there is a big difference between award given at national level and award presented at provincial level. “Now we do not know when and where the award ceremony will be held,” he said.

Referring to recently held Human Rights Awards, he said that all kinds of awards took place in past four months other than National Youth Awards. “It goes to show where the youth is ranked on the priority list of the government.” Asking another genuine question, he said that who is going to present awards to those who belong to Islamabad and FATA. “May be for ministry officials, the awards ceremony was nothing more than a bureaucratic procedure but for us and our families, it was the most precious moment of our lives that we missed because of the lethargic attitude of the Youth Ministry.” Hannan said that he and his friends plan to go to Supreme Court for help. “How can provinces present the National Awards?” he asked another logical question.

A previous official when contacted said that the ministry was all prepared to organize awards since July 11. “The shields were prepared, cheques of Rs50,000 were issued for each candidate and even the pane flex banner to be displayed on the stage was prepared.”

Talking to ‘The News’, former Senior Joint Secretary for MoYA Shahid Barlas said that they have dispatched shields, certificates and the cheques to the provincial governments on December 9. “The nominees will not be deprived of the award,” he assured. “The only difference is that the provincial department will present the award.” He said that they have paid Rs20,000 only for the dispatches.