PM Shehbaz unveils first Youth Employment Policy

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Pakistan’s first Youth Employment Policy.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced Pakistan’s first Youth Employment Policy.

He said the government is focusing on education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship for young people.

Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad, Shehbaz said a significant amount of money had been allocated for youth development this year.

He stressed the importance of equal educational opportunities. He said every child should have access to quality education.The prime minister said Pakistan could not achieve the vision of Quaid-e-Azam if quality education remained limited to wealthy families.

He criticised the gap between privileged and poor students. He said elite institutions provide better facilities to children from affluent families.

According to Shehbaz, this inequality has contributed to Pakistan’s weak performance in the education sector.

He said his government had worked to bring students from remote and less-developed areas into the education system.

The prime minister also highlighted the Daanish Schools programme. He said its network is being expanded beyond Punjab.

New Daanish Schools are being established in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, he added.

Shehbaz said young people must be given access to modern education and technology.

He warned that Pakistan would fall further behind if its youth were not prepared for the changing global economy.

35% quota for women

The prime minister announced important measures under the new employment policy.

He said women would receive a 35% quota across the labour force.He also announced a 10% annual quota for startups.

The measure is aimed at encouraging young entrepreneurs and creating new employment opportunities.

Shehbaz said young people should not only look for jobs. They should also be encouraged to establish businesses and create employment for others.

Daanish University in Islamabad

The prime minister also announced progress on Daanish University in Islamabad.He said the university is being established to provide modern and quality education.

Classes are expected to begin next year.Shehbaz said financial difficulties should not prevent talented students from pursuing higher education.

He said students with strong academic results would be given opportunities even if they could not afford expensive education.

The prime minister pledged that his government would take every possible step for youth development.

He said higher education and employment would remain among the government’s key priorities.

Shehbaz also highlighted the government’s laptop distribution programme.

He said around 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among deserving students.According to the prime minister, the laptops were awarded strictly on merit.

He recalled that the programme had faced criticism in the past. Some critics had accused the government of using laptops for political purposes.Shehbaz rejected the criticism and said deserving students received the devices based on their academic performance.

He further announced that 250,000 students would receive Chromebooks this year.The devices will also be distributed on merit.

The prime minister said investment in education and digital skills was essential for Pakistan’s future.He said young people represent the country’s biggest resource.

Providing them with education, technology and employment opportunities, he added, would help build a skilled workforce and strengthen the national economy.The new Youth Employment Policy is therefore being presented as a broader government effort to connect education with employment and entrepreneurship.