Greatest national asset

Quite surely and certainly, Pakistan’s youth are our greatest national asset and, more importantly, the foundation of the country’s future growth. With nearly 70 percent of Pakistan’s total population below the age of 30, making the much required investment as such was not only a social responsibility but also an economic necessity.

Visionary Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s focus was centred on productive employment, empowering Pakistani youth to become job creators instead of job seekers. Under his leadership and guidance, youth empowerment has been placed at the centre of the Federal Government’s development agenda.

According to the relevant facts and figures in this regard available from the official sources concerned, the Federal Budget for the just commenced new financial year 2026-27 duly reflects this commitment through the largest-ever investment in Pakistan’s youth development, as Rs 40.58 billion have been directly allocated for the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme initiatives. Additionally, Rs 21 billion have also been provided for the implementation of a number of youth-focused programmes by various ministries/divisions of the Federal Government. Such a huge allocation in the new federal budget for youth development quite obviously reflects the Federal Government’s determination to provide young Pakistanis with equal opportunities in education, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, sports, and leadership. Federal budget allocations will hopefully further strengthen youth participation in national development.

The Federal Government is in the process of building an ecosystem where young Pakistanis can create businesses, generate employment, and contribute to economic growth. This appreciable ecosystem is being built through productive employment initiatives, entrepreneurship support, skills development, and easy and comfortable access to financial resources.

The youth-focused prioritized areas in the federal budget directly impacting the future of Pakistan’s young population included allocation of Rs 22.4 billion for the PM’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme for promoting entrepreneurship and economic independence; Rs 9.9 billion for the Youth Skills Development Programme to provide market-driven technical and digital skills; Rs 3 billion for the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund for supporting talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds; another Rs 3.00 billion for IT Startups and Venture Capital support for accelerating Pakistan’s digital economy; Rs 700.00 million for Youth Development Centres; Rs 500.00 million for the Talent Hunt Youth Sports League; Rs 400.00 million for the National Volunteer Corps; Rs 300.00 million for E-Sports Arenas and Training Centres; Rs 250.00 million for National Innovation Awards; and Rs 50.00 million for the Green Youth Movement. Additionally, Rs 24.48 billion have also been allocated for expansion of the Daanish Schools Network across the country for improving access to quality education.

Recognizing the fast emerging fact that the modern global economy rewards skills, innovation, and adaptability, the Federal Government has also allocated more than Rs 9.9 billion for technical, digital, and professional skills development under the PM Youth Programmes.

Young Pakistanis are being trained through the Youth Skills Development Programme in fast emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, data science, and other high-demand sectors, along with traditional trades aligned with market needs. The objective is to bridge the gap between education and employment and to prepare the youth to avail and explore opportunities both within Pakistan and in foreign countries around the globe.

The PM’s Youth Business & Agriculture Loan Scheme duly represents the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure entrepreneurship-led growth. Through provision of interest-free and low-markup financing, the scheme is enabling young Pakistanis to establish their own businesses, expand agricultural ventures, launch startups, and become employers. This is an ongoing initiative which has demonstrated quite significant impact, as till now Rs 365.5 billion have been disbursed to over 625,740 borrowers, which has contributed to the creation of nearly 1.96 million jobs.

It is pertinent to mention here that while it is hoped that funds will be allocated for the continuation of the scheme during financial year 2026-27 in an impressive and progressive manner, thereby further strengthening entrepreneurship, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), agriculture, and innovation, quite appreciably a 25 percent quota has been reserved for women to ensure that young women also have equal access to financing and economic opportunities.

The PM’s Youth Laptop Scheme is also an ongoing initiative under which six lakh laptops have so far been distributed among talented students across Pakistan. Under its Phase-IV, another one lakh laptops are being distributed. In the next phase, PM’s Chromebooks will be distributed to students nationwide, including those hailing from underserved and grassroots communities, in order to further enhance digital learning opportunities.

Digital transformation is a key priority of the Federal Government’s youth development agenda. The PM’s Digital Youth Hub is Pakistan’s first national youth platform for connecting young people with opportunities across the PM’s Youth Programmes and the 4Es Framework, including education, employment, scholarships, internships, entrepreneurship, and technology. With already more than 800,000 registered users, over 16 million downloads, and over 114,000 job listings, the platform is ensuring transparent and merit-based opportunities.

Sports development is another priority of the Federal Government. More than 300,000 young athletes have already so far participated in the PM’s Youth Talent Identification activities. The Federal Government is expanding sports disciplines from 12 to 23 while also establishing professional facilities.

The approval of Pakistan’s first National E-Sports Policy in the very near future will further open opportunities in the rapidly growing global digital entertainment industry.

Furthermore, the National Youth Employment Policy aims to create sustainable employment opportunities for Pakistan’s youth, including 32.4 million NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) youth, by aligning skills development with market demands and high-growth sectors. The policy commendably focuses on youth entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, digital skills, and expanding access to decent employment opportunities, with a target of achieving 100 percent absorption of new labour-force entrants by 2030 and also increasing female labour force participation to 35 percent.

Further, the National Adolescent & Youth Policy empowers Pakistan’s youth aged 10-29 years through education, skills development, employment, health, and social inclusion. The policy has been developed through consultations with 50/60 thousand youth across 40+ cities and provides a framework for youth development and nation-building.

While providing the above-mentioned information regarding youth-focused programmes, the official sources have emphatically concluded by saying that every scholarship awarded, every skill developed, every startup supported, and every employment opportunity created represents progress toward a stronger and more prosperous Pakistan.

While concluding, this scribe would like to ask the official quarters concerned of the Federal Government that, since most of the above-mentioned youth-focused initiatives and programmes under the direction of the PM are little known among prospective beneficiaries and their parents, these ought to be given wide publicity down to the grassroots level to ensure the maximum number of the country’s youth population avail these facilities and opportunities and contribute their share toward the national development and economic prosperity of their beloved motherland Pakistan to the maximum extent possible, as when our youth succeed, Pakistan will surely and certainly succeed, Inshallah.