New policy introduces a 35% women’s labour quota and 10% annual startup quota to expand jobs and opportunities for Pakistan’s youth.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday formally launched Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy, reaffirming the government’s commitment to equipping young people with modern technological education, marketable skills and employment opportunities.
Speaking at a ceremony marking International Youth Day, the prime minister said the policy was aimed at addressing Pakistan’s growing youth population by creating greater employment opportunities and supporting innovation.
Under the new policy, the government has announced a 35% quota for women in the labour force and a 10% annual quota for young startups, aimed at promoting inclusivity and entrepreneurship.
The prime minister stressed that Pakistan’s youth must acquire expertise in artificial intelligence, information technology and other emerging technologies to compete with developed countries in an increasingly digital economy.
He said the government would utilise available resources to provide talented and deserving students with opportunities to obtain quality education and develop skills at leading institutions.
Focus on equal educational opportunities
Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the need to eliminate disparities in access to quality education between affluent and underprivileged segments of society.
He highlighted the role of Danish schools, saying the network was being expanded to backward and remote areas to provide quality education to talented and deserving students.
The prime minister also announced the establishment of Danish University in Islamabad, which is expected to begin its academic session next year. The institution will focus on technology and provide opportunities to deserving students.
He said 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among students on merit, while 250,000 high-achieving students will receive Chromebooks this year.
Youth to receive AI, IT training
The prime minister said the government had allocated significant resources for youth development in the recent federal budget.
He noted that 1,000 agri-educated youth from across Pakistan had been sent to China at government expense to acquire modern agricultural technology. Additional batches of young people will also be sent to China for AI and IT education and training on merit.
Meanwhile, Minister for Power Sardar Ahmad Khan Leghari said the National Youth Employment Policy would provide opportunities for young people with innovative ideas, particularly those that could contribute to the power sector.
He said a national employment digital platform would support innovative ideas, while Rs30 million would be awarded annually to winning participants. The government has also allocated Rs1 billion over three years for adopting successful ideas.
Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan also highlighted the government’s education initiatives and said the policy would help put Pakistan’s youth on a path towards progress and prosperity.
The prime minister also distributed awards among young achievers during the ceremony.