Battagram hosts largest-ever youth summit, bringing together more than 3,000 students

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jun, 2026) Battagram district witnessed its largest-ever youth gathering on Monday as more than 3,000 students from the area and neighbouring districts participated in the Metrix Pakistan Youth Summit, 8th Edition held at Hazara University Battagram Campus.

The summit was organized by District Youth Office Battagram in collaboration with Metrix Pakistan, C Suite Nexus Global and Hazara University Battagram Campus, with support from the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The event brought together government officials, university leadership, entrepreneurs, industry experts, educators and young people from across the province to discuss technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and future career opportunities.

The summit was held under the patronage of Taj Muhammad Khan Tarand, Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on sports and Youth Affairs, who attended as the chief guest.

Addressing the participants, Mr. Tarand urged young people to use internet as a source of learning, innovation and economic opportunity instead of limiting its use to entertainment.

“The digital world has opened countless opportunities for our youth. If they use technology wisely, they can acquire new skills, build businesses, create employment and compete globally,” he said.

Empowering young people through education, digital literacy and entrepreneurship was essential for the future progress of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan.

The event was also addressed by Deputy Commissioner Battagram Muhammad Shoaib, District Police Officer Battagram Qamar Hayat Khan, Vice Chancellor Hazara University Prof. Dr. Ikramullah Khan, and Director Hazara University Battagram Campus Dr. Tariq Anwar Khan.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Shoaib appreciated the organizers and said such initiatives provide much-needed exposure to young people by connecting them with successful entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders from different sectors.

He said the youth of Battagram possess enormous potential and deserve more opportunities to learn, innovate and excel.

District Police Officer, Qamar Hayat Khan encouraged students to become responsible digital citizens and use social media and technology positively for the betterment of society.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ikramullah Khan said universities must move beyond traditional classrooms and create environments where students can directly interact with industry leaders and professionals.

“Strong collaboration between academia, government and industry is essential to prepare our youth for future challenges,” he said.

Dr. Tariq Anwar Khan, Director of Hazara University Battagram Campus, welcomed the participants and said it was a matter of pride for the campus to host such a large-scale event for the first time.

He said universities have a responsibility not only to provide quality education but also to create platforms that expose students to emerging opportunities and connect them with professionals from different sectors.

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“Today's students are tomorrow’s leaders, innovators and decision-makers. By bringing academia, government and industry together under one roof, we are opening new doors for young people,” he said.

The summit featured keynote sessions by several prominent personalities from Pakistan’s business, technology and media sectors, including Aftab Ahmad, Founder and CEO of Assort Tech; Qaisar Akash Khan, CEO of Dilijent Systems and C Suite Nexus Global; Ammad Ali, Founder and CEO of RankingGrow; Rajab Ali Azad, CEO of Azad Media Production; Hajira Anwar, Assistant Professor at Hazara University; Zunaira Rehman, Founder and CEO of Digital Aspire; Noor Khalid, Director at RankingGrow; and Salman Khan, Senior Business Development Manager at Bitget Wallet.

Several important announcements were made during the summit for the youth of Battagram.

Ammad Ali announced 1,000 free training opportunities and 10 employment opportunities for young people from the district.

Aftab Ahmad pledged continued support for youth empowerment and entrepreneurship initiatives in the region.

Qaisar Akash Khan announced Rs50,000 in financial support for an art-based startup at Hazara University Battagram, encouraging students to transform innovative ideas into sustainable ventures.

A major highlight of the event was the Pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Awards ceremony.

Dr. Syed Hamad Shirazi, Assistant Professor at Hazara University Mansehra, received the Pride of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Award in recognition of his contributions to artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation, research and higher education.

The Excellence Award was presented to Humma Zahoor for her outstanding contributions to female education and academic leadership in Battagram.

Speaking at the event, Hassan Nisar, Founder and CEO of Metrix Pakistan, said the summit was organized to bridge gap between youth, academia, industry and policymakers.

“Our goal is to ensure that young people, regardless of where they come from, have access to opportunities, mentorship and platforms that can help them build successful futures,” he said.

Alam Zeb Khan, District Youth Officer Battagram, said the overwhelming participation reflected the passion and potential of the district’s youth.

“This summit is not just a one-day event. It is the beginning of a long-term effort to connect the youth of Battagram with education, innovation, careers and entrepreneurship opportunities,” he said.

The event concluded with networking sessions, panel discussions, audience engagement activities and a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to continue investing in youth development across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.