Pakistan Moves Ahead With New National Youth Policy

The federal cabinet in Pakistan has approved the National Adolescent and Youth Policy, a comprehensive framework addressing education, employment, participation, and environmental concerns, as announced after a cabinet meeting in Islamabad. Spearheaded by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the policy was introduced by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination and aims to integrate young people into government decision-making and enhance their access to economic and social opportunities.

The proposed policy encompasses four key areas: education, employment, participation, and environmental sustainability. To realize this vision, the government intends to establish the Pakistan Youth Development Council and the Federal Adolescent and Youth Agency. The cabinet confirmed that 32,145 surveys were conducted nationwide during the policy development and that over 200,000 young people were consulted for their input.

Prime Minister Sharif mandated the incorporation of suggestions from cabinet members into the policy. Additionally, the cabinet endorsed decisions made by the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises, the Economic Coordination Committee, and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases at meetings held on July 9 and August 14, 2026.