7-day FutureVerse festival brings young people from across Pakistan to Peshawar

PESHAWAR: A seven-day youth festival bringing together young people from different parts of Pakistan, including a strong participation of women, was held at TMUC Peshawar with activities focused on skills development, entrepreneurship, technology and creative expression.

FutureVerse 2026 was organised by the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in collaboration with The Order of Pen (TOOP). Over the course of seven days, the festival brought together participants from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the newly merged districts, as well as other parts of the country.

The seven-day programme featured training sessions, competitions, workshops, exhibitions and interactive activities organised under five themes — FounderVerse, TechVerse, MindVerse, JusticeVerse and StyleVerse.

Participants explored entrepreneurship, design thinking, robotics, personality development, fashion, art and other emerging fields. Industry professionals and mentors also engaged with participants during different sessions.

A significant feature of the seven-day event was the participation of women from different backgrounds and regions. They took part in training sessions, competitions, creative activities and discussions covering technology, entrepreneurship, leadership and other emerging areas.

Director Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abbas Khan Afridi said the participation of young people from different parts of the country, particularly women, reflected the need for broader access to learning and professional opportunities.

“FutureVerse has provided young people with a space to learn, exchange ideas and explore their potential over seven days. The participation of women and young people from different regions is particularly encouraging. We want to create more opportunities where they can gain practical skills, connect with mentors and pursue their ambitions,” he said.

Mr Afridi said the Directorate would continue to support initiatives that provide young people with access to skills, mentorship and practical exposure.

The festival also allowed participants to compete, collaborate and showcase their work while interacting with peers from different educational, social and regional backgrounds.

The organisers said the inclusion of participants from the newly merged districts and other parts of Pakistan was intended to widen access to youth-oriented programmes and encourage greater interaction among young people from diverse communities.