Thu, September 17, 2026
Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated the government’s resolve to prepare Pakistan’s young population for a rapidly evolving world by providing them with modern technological knowledge and practical skills.
Addressing a ceremony held to mark International Youth Day, the prime minister stressed that every young person, particularly deserving and talented students, should have access to quality education and equal opportunities, in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He said the sacrifices made for the establishment of Pakistan could not be fully realized unless young people were given fair opportunities to progress and contribute to the country’s development.
The prime minister formally launched the ‘First National Youth Employment Policy’, describing it as an initiative designed to turn Pakistan’s growing youth population into an economic strength by expanding employment opportunities.
As part of the policy, he announced a 35 percent quota for women in the workforce and a 10 percent annual quota for young startups, aimed at promoting greater participation, inclusivity and innovation.
PM Shehbaz observed that the world had entered an era dominated by artificial intelligence, information technology and advanced digital tools. He cautioned that Pakistan could not keep pace with developed countries unless the latest knowledge and technologies were incorporated into everyday life and education.
He pledged that the government would utilize all possible resources to create opportunities for young Pakistanis to pursue quality education at leading international institutions and develop expertise that could enable them to excel in different fields.
The event was attended by federal ministers, parliamentarians, diplomats, educators and a large number of young students.
The prime minister also stressed the importance of eliminating inequalities between privileged and disadvantaged segments of society in access to quality education.
Recalling the establishment of Danish schools during his tenure as Punjab’s chief minister, he said the initiative was conceived to provide high-quality education to talented and underprivileged children and was now being extended to other parts of the country.
PM Shehbaz explained that the Danish school system was built around the principle of giving deserving students access to quality education regardless of their social or economic background, a concept he said was consistent with the ideals behind the creation of Pakistan.
The prime minister said that Pakistan was envisioned as a country where people would receive equal opportunities in education, healthcare and other areas of life on the basis of merit and hard work. He emphasized that the country could not reach its true destination unless equality of opportunity was ensured for all citizens.
He said Danish schools were also being established in remote and less-developed areas to bring quality education to children who otherwise had limited access to such facilities.
Highlighting the capabilities of Pakistan’s youth, Shehbaz Sharif said the nation had high hopes for the younger generation and expected them to play a decisive role in the country’s future.
He pointed out that the government had allocated significant resources for youth development in the latest federal budget. Under the initiative, 1,000 agricultural graduates from different parts of Pakistan had been sent to China at government expense to acquire expertise in modern agricultural technologies.
PM Shehbaz added that additional groups of young people would be sent to China for education and training in AI and IT, with selections to be made strictly on merit, so they could return as valuable contributors to the national economy.
The prime minister once again pledged to channel national resources towards creating better opportunities and facilities for young people in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam.
He also announced the establishment of a Danish University in Islamabad, saying the institution would begin its academic activities next year. The university would have a strong focus on technology and would provide admission opportunities to talented and deserving students.
PM Shehbaz further stated that 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among students on merit, while 250,000 high-performing students would receive Chrome Books this year in recognition of their academic achievements.
Encouraging the younger generation, the prime minister quoted the famous saying, “The future is not something you wait for, the future is something you build, now go and build it,” urging students to take an active role in shaping Pakistan’s future.
Earlier, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari said that the government was introducing the country’s first innovative national youth policy to open employment avenues for young people with creative and unconventional ideas, particularly those that could contribute to the power sector.
He regretted that innovative ideas, research and potential solutions had previously lacked adequate institutional backing, despite their possible benefits for the power industry.
The minister said the first national employment digital platform would offer a platform for such ideas to be developed and implemented.
Leghari said Rs30 million would be distributed annually as prizes among successful participants, while Rs1 billion had been allocated over the next three years to help implement promising ideas.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan said the Danish education system and the Punjab Educational Endowment Fund represented major achievements of the prime minister in the education sector.
He expressed confidence that the prime minister’s vision would help steer Pakistan towards development, prosperity and lasting peace.
The ceremony concluded with the formal inauguration of the National Youth Employment Policy by PM Shehbaz, who also presented awards to young achievers in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments.
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