A podium shrouded in ajrak, with ‘It’s time to change your point of view’ written in bold in the backdrop, setting up the stage for the 2014-15 oath taking ceremony for the National Youth Parliament of Pakistan (NYPP).

Individuals from various parts of the country attended the function for the current session. NYPP was first held in 2008 to make the youth aware about the political system of their motherland and to instill in them a know-how of the state’s hierarchy and different ministries and the way they function under a democratic governmental set-up.

This year the oath taking ceremony was held at the Chief Minister’s house in Karachi. Out of the socialist and democratic manifesto, the attendees had to opt for either of the two along with the election of a general secretary, youth prime minister, deputy speaker and speaker.

Members of the socialist and democratic bloc were seen lobbying amongst their counterparts to gain popularity and attain votes. Some great rhetoric by enthusiasts at the venue was witnessed from students belonging to political sciences, media sciences, international relations, public administration as well as those belonging to the field of engineering.

The chief guests of the ceremony included Faryal Talpur (under whom the oath was taken) along with the Chief Minister of Sindh himself, Qaim Ali Shah.

Donning a hallmark Sindhi mirror-work shawl, Talpur emphasized the need of the hour for the youth to step forward and “be a part of the system” for all “political parties groom the youth.” Futhermore, she stated that it is the political participation which creates a sense of awareness which eventually leads a society towards change for the overall betterment in the long run.

With names being called out for every member present in the huge hall laden with exotic chandeliers, the members stepped forward to cast their votes for the youth PM and speaker.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Senator, Saeed Ghani also addressed the band of impassioned youth, the same group of individuals who kept talking about how votes can bring about change.

Ghani, attired in a modest, grey kameez shalwar, talked about how teachers, parents want their children to stay away from politics simply because it’s ‘bad’. The point made by Ghani was that instead of ‘leaving the vacuum’ open for politicians who are simply bad, why don’t youngsters get affiliated with political parties closest to their ethos and try replacing the so-called bad with the good? After all the vacuum has to be filled.

“Join political parties, don’t judge (party manifestos) through newspapers or television channels instead look up and study (parties) and choose the party which you think can make Pakistan how you want it to be,” declared Ghani.

The thought that politics is corrupt is simply a notion which can only be understood when the youth step out of their comfort zones and start participating to experience for themselves how effective politics and bureaucrats have helped in building successful nations around the globe.

It is only through the right set of people, with clear objectives while keeping in mind the aspirations and needs of the proletariats can only a regime be strengthened. All this will be achieved once the youth, the driving force of the nation engages in the policies of its state run institutions and strive towards eradicating the ills that corrode the society

All this can only be accomplished once the minds are open, willing to change the generalized perceptions that have been passed on from one generation to the other.