Pakistan is one of the youngest countries worldwide with 63% of its population being between the ages of 15 and 33 years old. The country is also one of the most affected by terrorism globally, ranking 5th in the 2019 Global Terrorism Index. Violent extremist ideology has gained most traction amongst young people in the country, particularly the urban, middle class and educated youth who are most influenced by political discourses and pop culture trends emphasizing violence and toxic masculinity. Over the past few years, the country has experienced several ideologically motivated attacks against women, civil society, and religious minorities carried out by young, educated people from middle or upper-middle-class backgrounds. 

The Pakistani Chapter of Extremely Together was established in partnership with the College of Youth Activism and Development and has since become the largest youth movement on preventing violent extremism in the country. In 2021 alone, over 5,000 new members from cities across the country had registered to join. Activities are mainly conducted in Karachi, Peshawar, Islamabad, and Lahore where city-wide chapters were put in place. Extremely Together Pakistan focuses on bolstering young people’s awareness of peacebuilding possibilities as well as their capacities through actions like city-wide campaigns, cultural and artistic activities, or leadership retreats for youth responsible for city chapters. The aim is also to promote youth solidarity through community service actions and live discussions on issues of peace and inclusion.  

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