PM directs coordinated measures to boost youth employment

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed relevant ministries and departments to take coordinated and effective measures to create employment opportunities for young people under the National Youth Employment Policy.

Chairing a meeting to review progress on the implementation of the policy, the prime minister said providing decent employment to the country’s skilled and talented youth was among the government’s top priorities.

He directed that progress on the implementation of the National Youth Employment Policy be reviewed every month to ensure effective execution of the planned measures.

“Integrated and effective measures must be ensured to provide employment opportunities to youth under the National Youth Employment Policy,” the prime minister said.

Shehbaz said that the launch of the country’s first National Youth Employment Policy reflected the government’s sincere efforts to empower young people and provide them with better livelihood opportunities.

He stressed the need for inter-ministerial coordination and a comprehensive strategy for implementing initiatives under the policy.

The prime minister called for particular attention to equipping young people, especially women, with skills to enable their greater participation in new employment opportunities.

He also directed that special focus be placed on creating employment opportunities for youth in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The prime minister said institutional reforms had been introduced in the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to align Pakistan’s skilled workforce with business and industrial demand both domestically and internationally.

He also directed the authorities to launch an awareness campaign to inform young people about the benefits and opportunities available under the policy.

During the briefing, officials said that NAVTTC was taking special measures to provide workers with internationally recognised certifications and proficiency in languages required in overseas labour markets.

They said that young people seeking employment abroad were being trained according to market demand.

The meeting was informed that the Digital Youth Hub was providing young people with information on domestic and overseas employment opportunities through a single platform.

Officials said all ministries and relevant institutions were working in coordination and consultation to ensure effective implementation of the National Youth Employment Policy.

The meeting was also informed that Youth Development Cells were being established in educational institutions to provide career counselling and guide young people about employment and skills-development opportunities.

Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood briefed the meeting on measures taken in line with the prime minister’s directives.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Rana Mashhood and officials of relevant government institutions attended the meeting.