Kanpur: A group of youths from Kashmir visited several prominent locations in city on Friday as part of a youth exchange programme aimed at promoting cultural understanding and national integration.During the day-long visit, the participants were familiarised with Kanpur’s heritage, social fabric, industry and educational environment. The programme began with a visit to the Kanpur Zoological Park, where the students observed various wildlife species and learned about the importance of biodiversity conservation. Zoological Park director Kanhaiya Lal and Range Forest Officer Naveed Ikram briefed them on wildlife protection, environmental balance and conservation of natural resources.The group later visited the historic Hazrat Makhdoom Shah Alaul Haq (Dada Miyan Dargah), where they were introduced to the rich Ganga-Jamuni cultural ethos, Sufi traditions and the spirit of religious harmony. The visitors described the shrine as a symbol of cultural unity.As part of the educational component of the tour, the youths were taken to a printing press, where they witnessed the complete process of newspaper production, including compilation, editing, designing and printing. They were also informed about modern printing technology, the role of media and the importance of independent journalism in a democratic society, which generated keen interest among participants. In the final phase, the delegation was introduced to city’s historic leather industry. Industry experts explained the production process, export potential, employment opportunities and the sector’s contribution to the “Make in India” initiative, highlighting Kanpur’s position in the global leather market.The youths also sampled the city’s popular street food, gaining insight into city’s cultural diversity and culinary traditions. District youth officer Anupam Kaithwas said that dialogue sessions, cultural evenings and a closing ceremony would be organised in the coming days as part of the programme.
