Islamabad: Prime Minister (PM) Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said providing dignified employment to the skilled and talented youth is among top priorities of government. He has directed that special focus be placed on making youths particularly women skilled to ensure their inclusion in new employment opportunities.
A progress review meeting on the implementation of roadmap of National Youth Employment Policy was held under PM in Islamabad Tuesday. PM directed that coordinated and effective steps be ensured to provide employment opportunities under National Youth Employment Policy.
He said the launch of the country's first-ever National Youth Employment Policy by the government is a testament of our sincere efforts. Shehbaz Sharif said inter-ministerial cooperation and a comprehensive strategy are essential for taking measures under the National Youth Employment Policy.
He said a progress review meeting on the implementation of the National Youth Employment Policy will be held every month. The Prime Minister instructed that special attention should be paid to transform the youth, especially women of the nation skillful to ensure their inclusion in new employment opportunities.
He particularly mentioned that special attention needs to be paid to provide employment opportunities to the youth of the country, especially Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the National Youth Employment Policy.
Shehbaz Sharif said institutional reforms have been introduced in the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission and SMEDA to align the country's skilled workforce with the business and industrial demand at home and abroad.
The Prime Minister issued instructions for launching an awareness campaign regarding the benefits that the youth would get under this policy.
The meeting was briefed that National Vocational and Technical Training Commission is taking special measures to provide workforce with international certifications and proficiency in the languages required for employment abroad.
It was also briefed that youth are being imparted training according to market demand to facilitate employment opportunities overseas. Additionally, the government initiatives have also enabled the Digital Youth Hub to provide youth across the country with information on domestic and international employment opportunities through a single platform.
The meeting was informed that all ministries and relevant institutions are working together through mutual coordination and consultation to ensure effective implementation of the National Youth Employment Policy.
It was told in the meeting that Youth Development Cells are being established in educational institutions. These cells will provide youth with guidance and career counseling, while also informing them about employment and skills-development opportunities.
Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood, also briefed the Prime Minister on the measures taken in accordance with his directives.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, minister for planning Ahsan Iqbal, minister for economic affairs, Ahad Khan Cheema, Information minister Atta Ullah Tarar, minister for climate change Musaddaq Malik , minister for information technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Chairman PM Youth program Rana Mashhood and senior government officials.