Islamabad, 15 July 2025 – Hashoo Foundation (HF) facilitated the Nation Insight Tour—a civic exposure visit that brought 30 youth from Swat to Islamabad for an immersive educational and policy engagement experience at the National Assembly and other key public institutions.
The Nation Insight Tour marks a significant milestone in the Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan (CPTP) project. Funded by the European Union, led by NACTA, and implemented by UNODC in partnership with civil society organizations like Hashoo, CPTP aims to strengthen community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence through inclusive, youth-focused programming.
The Partnerships for Change initiative in Swat is implemented by HF in partnership with the University of Swat and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (KPCVE). Anchored in HF’s flagship Social Lab and its award-winning SMaRT (Sustainable Methods and Resilient Technologies) Village models, the initiative has equipped 30 young Agents of Change with future-ready technical and soft skills under the Education 4.0 framework. Applying their learning in a selected community in Swat, these youth—with the support of seed funding provided through the project—successfully transformed it into a fully functional SMaRT Village of Gulibagh.
During their time in Islamabad, the Agents of Change visited the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Secretariat at the Prime Minister’s House, where they engaged in an interactive session with Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan. Following this discussion, he remarked: “Initiatives like Partnerships for Change are a strong reflection of our shared commitment to youth empowerment. By equipping young Pakistanis with future-ready skills, Education 4.0 and exposure, we are shaping a generation ready to lead with purpose, drive innovation, and contribute to sustainable national development.”
The Islamabad visit also offered trainees a rare, first-hand opportunity to witness Pakistan’s legislative and policy-making processes and engage directly with the institutions that shape the country’s security, governance, and development frameworks. The Assembly and Senate visits under the Nation Insight Tour were designed to deepen civic understanding, encourage democratic participation, and promote national integration among youth from conflict-affected and marginalized communities.
Commenting on the significance of the visit, Haris Qayyum Khan, CEO of Hashoo Foundation, said: “The Nation Insight Tour opens doors for youth from marginalized regions to connect with the institutions shaping Pakistan’s future. It is not enough to equip young people with technical skills; they also need civic exposure and platforms to engage with national governance and policy-making processes.”
Ghanira Siraj, an Agent of Change currently incubating her social enterprise around eco-tourism at the Social Lab, shared her reflections on the visit to the National Assembly: “The Nation Insight Tour helped me connect everything we learned at the Social Lab to how real decisions are made in Pakistan. Visiting the National Assembly and meeting policymakers showed me that our ideas can go beyond Swat and make a larger impact at the national level.”
30 youth have developed 6 social enterprises that addressed socio-economic challenges with green solutions such as biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, food innovation and preservation, access to clean water, and sustainable livelihoods. The 2 months mentorship aided by a Pitch Fest and Nation Insight Tour has further facilitated their journey to take their business to next level.
About Hashoo Foundation:
Established in 1988, Hashoo Foundation continues to lead knowledge-based development across Pakistan. Its wide-ranging initiatives in education, health, sustainability, and community development are backed by robust partnerships with the United Nations, international NGOs, government agencies, and the private sector. The Foundation remains committed to transforming lives and empowering communities through an inclusive, holistic approach.
