Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has paid tribute to Pakistan's youth on International Youth Day, describing young people as an invaluable national asset and a driving force for the country's bright future.

In his message, the Prime Minister said Pakistan joined the international community in observing International Youth Day under the theme 'Different Contexts, Common Aspirations. '

He said the theme highlighted that although young people around the world lived in diverse circumstances, their dreams, aspirations and hopes for a brighter future remained remarkably similar.

The Prime Minister said Pakistani youth had brought laurels to the country at national and international levels through their achievements in various fields and were also playing a constructive role as active members of society.

He said ensuring the intellectual, physical, mental and academic development of young people through effective utilisation of national resources remained among the government's key priorities.

The government was committed to empowering youth through quality education, technical and vocational skills, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, industrial development, digital innovation and social inclusion, he added.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was also taking practical measures to align the abilities, skills and professional competencies of young people with international standards.

He highlighted several initiatives, including scholarship programmes, laptop distribution and paid internships for students seeking opportunities in education, information technology, technical fields and artificial intelligence.

He said the Prime Minister's Youth Skill Development Programme was working to develop a talented and skilled workforce, while the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission had been further strengthened to provide internationally recognised certifications and world-class professional and technical training.

The Prime Minister urged young people to continue their journey of hard work with honesty, responsibility and a spirit of service to the nation.

He said Pakistan's sustainable development and bright future were intrinsically linked to the progress of its youth and called upon all segments of society to work together for the country's development and prosperity.