LAHORE:The 3rd Punjab Inclusive Governance Summit 2026 was held here on the premises of Punjab Assembly and organised by Youth Development Foundation (YDF) under its Minority Civic Agents Programme, with support from National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
The summit brought together parliamentarians, senior government officials, minority representatives, women leaders, civil society actors and youth leaders to promote transparent, accountable, and inclusive governance in Punjab. More than 500 representatives from over 90 Union Councils across Punjab attended the event, making it one of the largest minority civic engagement gatherings ever hosted at the Punjab Assembly.
Punjab Assembly Secretary General Chaudhary Amer Habib delivered the keynote address and reaffirmed institutional support for initiatives promoting minority inclusion and participatory governance. In his remarks, he acknowledged the structural challenges faced by minority communities and emphasised the importance of creating equal opportunities and democratic participation for all citizens.
The summit was attended by Senator Khalil Tahir Sandhu as Guest of Honour. Raheela Khadim Hussain, Coordinator Minorities Punjab emphasised the importance of women’s participation and minority representation in governance processes. She appreciated the active involvement of women civic agents and stated that empowering women and youth at the grassroots level is essential for building an inclusive and progressive Punjab. Falbous Christopher, Chairman Standing Committee on HR&MA and Parliamnentary Minority Caucus, Punjab, highlighted the importance of community leadership and encouraged minority youth to continue engaging in democratic and policy processes. Distinguished participants also included MPA Shakeela Arthur, MPA Waseem Ahmad Sandhu, MPA Emmanuel Ather Julius, and MPA Sardar Muhammad Owais Dreshak, MPA Shazia Abid, alongside representatives from key public institutions.
The event commenced with welcome remarks by Shahid Rehmat. Two panel discussions were held during the summit. The first session, titled ‘Improvement of Public Service Delivery in Punjab,’ brought together representatives from Wasa, LG&CD, LWMC, Nadra, and Punjab Police to discuss institutional responsiveness and citizen engagement. The second panel discussion, ‘Inclusion of Religious Minorities and Women in the Governance of Punjab,’ focused on challenges related to representation, policy reforms, and pathways for strengthening the participation of marginalised communities in governance structures.
