PM launches youth employment, skills and power-sector innovation programmes

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated Pakistan's inaugural National Youth Employment Policy, Skill Ambassador Programme, and National Power Sector Innovation Programme on Wednesday, stressing the government's commitment to equal opportunities for education, skills development, and dignified employment for young people. Speaking at an event in Islamabad to observe International Youth Day, the prime minister emphasized that the nation's progress could not be achieved without ensuring equal educational opportunities for all its youth.

Referring to the youth as the nation's hope, Sharif reaffirmed that all available resources would be devoted to their development and prosperity.

The National Youth Employment Policy will mandate the allocation of 35% of the labor force quota for women and 10% of the annual quota for startups to be reserved for young entrepreneurs. Over 700,000 laptops have already been distributed to talented students on merit, with an additional 250,000 Chromebooks to be provided to deserving students this year.

Furthermore, 1,000 high-performing matriculation and intermediate students will be sent to China this year for IT and AI education and training, while 1,000 agricultural graduates from all four provinces have already received government-funded training in China.

A state-of-the-art Danish University specializing in technology and vocational education is being established in Islamabad, with classes set to begin next year. The university will provide free technical and vocational education to deserving students regardless of their financial circumstances, with the prime minister emphasizing that those who lack money should not be discouraged, as their merit will ensure admission to the institution.

Highlighting disparities in access to education, Sharif expressed concern that millions of talented children across Pakistan could outperform their peers in other cities and countries if given the opportunity to receive quality education. He praised the Danish schools for enabling children from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive high-quality education, stating that their standard of education is "in no way inferior" to Aitchison College.

The prime minister stressed the importance of equipping Pakistan's young population with modern skills, particularly in technical education, IT, and AI, warning that Pakistan would fall behind in the race for development if these fields were not incorporated into the national journey.

Sharif reminded the audience of Pakistan's founding vision of establishing a welfare state where everyone can enjoy equal rights and opportunities for development. He stressed that the government is committed to correcting past mistakes by investing in the development and prosperity of young people. The Danish schools will be expanded beyond Punjab to Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Balochistan's mountainous regions, providing free quality education to talented boys and girls throughout the country.