Urges youth to focus on international certifications, vocational training in high-demand skills for global market
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding measures taken to increase employment opportunities for the national youth in Islamabad on April 1. Photo: PMO
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that the government was taking multiple steps to equip young people with professional skills and integrate them into the workforce, saying youth are the future of our nation.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), while chairing a review meeting on measures to increase job opportunities for youth, PM Shehbaz expressed satisfaction and stated that the government was accelerating efforts to provide technical and vocational training to youth in line with contemporary demands.
“PM Shehbaz observed that the recent reforms in the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) have significantly improved the delivery of technical education,” the statement said.
According to the PMO, during the meeting, the prime minister stated that the comprehensive training programmes launched through NAVTTC were already yielding positive results, tapping into the potential of the youth workforce.
The statement also noted that, while emphasising the importance of preparing youth for international competition, the premier stressed the need for them to focus on obtaining international certifications alongside vocational training in high-demand skills for the global market.
The statement further added that, during the meeting, officials briefed the prime minister on efforts to create employment opportunities at both national and international levels.
The briefing noted that the PM Youth Programme and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had already identified multiple international employment opportunities for young Pakistanis and are working to expand them further.
“The PM Youth Hub has assumed a central role in providing information on employment opportunities both nationally and internationally. Employment opportunities are available in IT, healthcare, construction, tourism, logistics, and other sectors abroad,” the briefing added.
The statement also mentioned that the Higher Education Commission was tracking graduate employment from 282 universities across the country through a digital app, a system intended to inform future education policy.
According to the PMO, during the meeting, the PM Shehbaz also briefed that 32 institutions under the Federal Ministry of Education have introduced Matric-Tech, a vocational programme for secondary-level students. An Inter-Tech programme for higher-level technical training was also planned.
The review meeting was attended by federal ministers, including Dr Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Attaullah Tarar, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Dr Ahsan Iqbal, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kiani, alongside the Chairman of the PM Youth Programme, the HEC Chairman, and senior officials from relevant institutions.
