Chandigarh: With youth concerns such as unemployment, migration, drug abuse, paper leaks, quality of education expected to shape Punjab's political discourse ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the Punjab Congress has started reaching out to first-time voters and young professionals.The outreach comes at a time when youth-related issues continue to dominate public debate in Punjab and across the country. The initiative "Gen Z Leading the Change" is being projected by the party as an attempt to reconnect with young voters, who it believes could play a decisive role in helping it return to power after its defeat to the Aam Aadmi Party in 2022, when the Congress was reduced to 18 seats.Unemployment remains a major concern. Youth unemployment in Punjab is nearly double the national average, with unemployment among those aged 15 to 29 standing at 17% in the state, compared with the national average of 9.9%. The lack of job avenues for qualified youth has also been pushing many young people out of the state, largely abroad, in search of better opportunities.Households in Punjab are spending more on education than the national average, reflecting rising aspirations. The share of the population with secondary education and above is 49% in Punjab, higher than the national average of 42.4%. Graduates account for 8.7% of Punjab's population, compared with 10.8% nationally, while postgraduates and above account for 2.8% in Punjab against 3.3% nationally.The drug menace is another key issue, with young people being targeted and becoming victims of addiction, while reports of drug overdose deaths have added to growing concern.As part of the strategy, the party has formed groups to interact with youngsters and collect feedback on the issues and problems faced by them. The feedback gathered through these interactions is expected to be used in shaping the party's manifesto and youth-specific promises for the 2027 Assembly elections. The party has also roped in young social media influencers to expand its reach among first-time voters and digitally active youth. A detailed activity plan has been drawn up for meetings, discussions and other outreach programmes aimed at engaging young people across the state.As part of the initiative, Punjab Pradesh Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring attended a cricket match in Mohali on May 27 along with 27 youngsters.Warring said the programme is aimed at making young people active participants in political and policy discussions, rather than treating them merely as voters. Warring said the state unit has also sought to link the campaign with the larger political approach advocated by Rahul Gandhi, centred on listening to young voices and encouraging wider participation in public life. "Punjab's next political chapter cannot be written without its youth. The Punjab Congress wants to rebuild a stronger connection with the state's young generation and make them active participants in shaping Punjab's future," Warring said.