Business Recorder
KARACHI: Chairman of Prime Minister’s Youth Program (PYMP) Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan has stated that Pakistan’s youth are its greatest asset and that creating opportunities for them is essential for ensuring long-term economic stability and national progress. Exchanging views during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Friday, Rana Mashood said that the PYMP caters to nearly 70 percent of Pakistan’s population, which amounts to approximately 170 million young people out of the country’s total population of around 240 million. He noted that engaging such a large youth population in productive activities and creating opportunities for them is a major challenge, but if Pakistan succeeds in this mission, the benefits will be enormous. However, if the country fails to positively engage its youth, it could create serious socioeconomic challenges in the future. He explained that the Prime Minister’s Youth Program is currently working on the framework of 4Es, Education, Engagement, Environment, and Employment, and all the opportunities generated under the program are linked to these four key pillars. Highlighting one of the flagship initiatives, he said that Pakistan’s first Digital Youth Hub has been launched to connect young people with opportunities. He urged all chambers of commerce and industry across the country, including KCCI, to become part of the platform through registration. According to Rana Mashood, around 800,000 young men and women are currently registered with the Digital Youth Hub, while more than 4,000 organisations from within Pakistan and abroad are also connected to the platform and regularly share opportunities through it. He further stated that Pakistani missions abroad are also linked with the Digital Youth Hub and share employment, education, and training opportunities available in their respective countries. He added that the platform currently offers more than 100,000 job opportunities in Pakistan and overseas for young people. In addition, more than 3,000 scholarships in education and technical fields are available through the platform. He noted that the data is updated daily and the system is based on artificial intelligence, enabling young people to receive guidance regarding educational pathways, employment prospects, and even sports-related opportunities. Highlighting another important flagship initiative, Rana Mashood referred to the Prime Minister Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme and said that loan disbursement under the scheme amounted to Rs80 billion between 2013 and 2024, which was increased to Rs200 billion last year. The government now intends to further enhance the allocation to Rs250 billion during the current year. Rana said that every loan disbursed under the Prime Minister Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme results in the creation of an average of 3.3 jobs, making it an important instrument for employment generation and entrepreneurship development. He also advised KCCI to establish a facilitation center to help young people understand the procedures for availing loans under the scheme and to provide them with guidance and support in completing the required formalities. Referring to broader policy measures, he stated that Pakistan’s first Youth Employment Policy has been introduced and approved by the cabinet. Under this policy, at least 35 percent participation of women in the labour force has been envisaged, as no society can progress without ensuring meaningful inclusion of women. He further informed that the government is also working on Pakistan’s first National Adolescent and Youth Policy, which categorizes young people into three age groups: 10 to 15 years, 15 to 19 years, and 19 to 29 years. He said that policy frameworks are being developed for each category in order to address their specific educational, social, and economic needs. Rana Mashood emphasized that the Prime Ministers Youth Program is firmly committed to promoting merit, transparency, and equal opportunities for all young people across Pakistan. Earlier, Senior Vice President KCCI Muhammad Raza, while warmly welcoming Chairman PMYP, stated that Pakistan’s youth constitute the majority of the country’s population and that empowering and guiding them is essential for sustainable economic growth. He emphasised that the country must harness the immense potential of its youth not merely as an opportunity but as an absolute necessity, as no nation can achieve long-term prosperity without effectively utilising the capabilities, energy, and talent of its younger generation. He noted that the initiatives undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme are highly commendable, particularly in the areas of entrepreneurship promotion, skill development, and access to finance for young individuals. These initiatives, he said, are crucial in enabling youth to become job creators rather than job seekers, which remains one of the most important drivers of economic progress in any country. He further stated that KCCI strongly believes that close collaboration between the business community and youth-focused initiatives can create powerful synergies and generate a far-reaching positive impact on the national economy. It is imperative to align industry requirements with youth training programs so that young people are equipped with practical and relevant skills that correspond with evolving market demands. In this regard, he proposed enhanced engagement between PMYP and KCCI to facilitate internships, apprenticeships, and startup incubation opportunities for young people. He also stressed the need to simplify procedures for youth financing and ensure wider awareness of available schemes, particularly in industrial and export-oriented sectors. Encouraging greater youth participation in SMEs, the digital economy, and innovation-driven enterprises, he added, can significantly strengthen Pakistan’s economic growth and competitiveness. Muhammad Raza also assured KCCI’s full cooperation to the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in achieving its objectives. He stated that KCCI stands ready to serve as a bridge between policymakers and the business community in order to maximize the impact of youth empowerment initiatives. He expressed optimism that meaningful collaboration between the two sides would contribute significantly towards the betterment, prosperity, and economic progress of Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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