PUK 222 Prioritises Youth and Women in its Electoral Agenda

Reports 03:46 PM - 2025-10-22

PUK List 222.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) List No. 222 places significant emphasis on youth and women within its electoral agenda, recognising their leading role in driving social, political, and economic transformation. The programme outlines several key objectives, including expanding access to education and international scholarships, supporting start-up initiatives and the creation of a digital labour market, as well as ensuring meaningful participation for youth and women in senior party and governmental positions, and representing them in international festivals and forums.

PUK List 222 Agenda for Youth and Women

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) believes that youth and women are the catalysts of profound change. Under a young and forward-thinking leadership, the party seeks to place them at the centre of social, political, and economic progress and to accelerate the process of development and reform.

The Agenda includes the following points:

1-Offering affordable education in colleges and institutes, in line with practices across Iraq.

2-Facilitating access for youth to international universities and providing scholarships.

3-Expanding the start-up initiative for Kurdistan’s youth by utilising the Iraqi government’s annual funding for small-scale youth projects, an initiative currently on the Deputy Prime Minister’s agenda.

4-Establishing a digital labour market connecting Kurdistan with other Iraqi cities and international hubs to encourage cross-border employment opportunities.

5-Enabling annual participation of the Region’s youth in international festivals within Iraq or representing Iraq abroad.

6-Creating co-working spaces for young programmers and designers across cities in the Kurdistan Region, in coordination with the Iraqi government.

7-Empowering youth and women to play an active role in political life and strengthening confidence in their ability to assume senior party and governmental roles.

8-Providing further opportunities for Kurdistan’s youth to pursue higher education abroad through federal institutions, agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Higher Education.

The PUK Aims to Serve Youth through Baghdad

A young candidate on the PUK list stated: “Just as I have previously supported youth in sports and employment opportunities, I will continue to do so through the Iraqi Parliament to serve young people and the wider community more effectively.”

Hema Shahid Karzan Shaqlaway, candidate number 24 on the PUK List 222 for the Erbil constituency, told PUKMEDIA: “The PUK is committed to serving the youth of the Kurdistan Region from Baghdad and to opening the doors of international universities to them. The focus of our electoral platform is on young people, and we have developed a specific plan within that framework.”

She added: “I am the youngest candidate across all of Kurdistan and have supported many young athletes both financially and morally. I have a future vision to serve youth in the fields of sports and art, as well as to help create new job opportunities for them.”

Striving for a Better Life for Young People

Shaida Hadi Haji Karim, candidate number 8 on the PUK List 222 for the Sulaymaniyah constituency and the youngest candidate in her constituency, told PUKMEDIA: “The PUK’s platform serves all segments of society, and as a young candidate, my priority is to provide greater support and services to youth and women in various fields.”

She continued: “We are working to reduce youth migration and to create more employment opportunities, as many families have lost members to migration in search of a better life. Through parliamentary committees, we will strive to improve young people’s lives. Being young myself, I understand their challenges well, and I am determined to present a practical and realistic programme for change.”

The PUK reaffirms its commitment to placing youth at the heart of its programmes and projects — by generating employment opportunities, improving the quality of education locally and internationally, and supporting them in sports and the arts. The party’s new electoral platform also seeks to strengthen the role of women and young people as key drivers of progress and development in both Kurdistan and Iraq.



PUKMEDIA