Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy, introducing quotas for women and startups while expanding education, skills and technology programmes for young people.
Speaking at an International Youth Day ceremony on Wednesday, Shehbaz said Pakistan must give talented and deserving students equal educational opportunities. He linked the goal to Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s vision and said denying such opportunities would leave the sacrifices behind Pakistan’s creation unfulfilled.
Women and startups get dedicated quotas
Under the policy, 35 percent of the labour force quota will go to women. The government will also reserve 10 percent of the annual quota for young startups to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation.
“Under the policy, there will be a mandatory 35 percent quota for women in the entire labor force,” Shehbaz said. “Therefore, I announce that every year we will allocate a 10 percent quota for startups,” he added.
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The prime minister said Pakistan could not compete with developed countries unless young people gained modern technical knowledge. He identified artificial intelligence, information technology and technology-driven skills as key priorities.
“We will not let our youth lag behind in the journey of development,” he said.
Education, China training and technology push
Shehbaz pledged all available resources to support youth after quality education and training. He also called for ending disparities between wealthy and poor families in access to good education.
He recalled launching Daanish Schools in Punjab as chief minister. The government is now expanding the network into backward and far-flung areas to serve talented, underprivileged students.
The government has allocated substantial funds for youth in the current fiscal budget. Shehbaz said it had sent 1,000 agricultural graduates to China at government expense for modern technology training. More merit-based batches will go to China for AI and IT education.
The government is also establishing a technology-focused Daanish University in Islamabad. It will begin its academic session next year and admit deserving and talented students on merit.
Shehbaz said the government had distributed 700,000 laptops among students on merit. Another 250,000 high achievers will receive Chromebooks this year.
“The future is not something you wait for, the future is something you build, now go and build it,” he told the youth.
Digital employment platform targets new ideas
Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said the initiative would create opportunities for young people with ideas that could benefit the power sector. He said Pakistan previously lacked institutional support to nurture useful innovation and research.
The first National Employment Digital Platform will provide a springboard for such ideas. Leghari said Rs30 million would go to winning participants annually. The government has also set aside Rs1 billion over three years to adopt promising ideas.
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Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan highlighted the Daanish education system and Punjab Educational Endowment Fund. He said Shehbaz’s vision could lead Pakistan towards progress, prosperity and peace.
The prime minister formally inaugurated the employment policy and presented awards to outstanding young people. He said the nation had high expectations from its youth and linked Pakistan’s future to education, skills and equal opportunity.
