ISLAMABAD, Mar 03 (APP):Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan met Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Pakistan, Ms Fahmida Iqbal at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss collaboration aimed at advancing young women’s economic, digital and leadership empowerment.
The meeting underscored a shared understanding that young women must be placed at the centre of Pakistan’s demographic dividend and inclusive growth agenda. Both sides noted the alignment between PMYP’s 4Es framework education, employment, engagement and environment and UN Women’s mandate to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Outlining policy direction, the PMYP chairman said programme interventions were anchored in the National Youth Employment Policy, which focuses on school to work transition, skills development, entrepreneurship and inclusive labour markets.
He also shared progress on the National Adolescents and Youth Policy, which prioritises digital inclusion, prevention of gender based violence, safer online spaces, child marriage prevention and youth health and wellbeing.
Women’s economic participation was highlighted as a national priority. Officials noted that the female labour force participation rate stands at 21.5 per cent, with a national target of increasing it to 35 per cent by 2030.
Under the PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, a 25 per cent quota has been reserved for women. The need to enhance uptake through gender responsive financial literacy, enterprise readiness, mentorship and innovative financing models was also discussed.
The meeting explored collaboration under the Digital Youth Hub, envisioned as a national platform for employment matching, digital skills development and entrepreneurship. E commerce enablement was discussed as a pathway to support young women’s transition into the formal economy.
Expanding women’s participation in technical and vocational education and training, particularly in non traditional and high growth sectors, was identified as another key area for partnership. Behaviour change communication, gender responsive training environments and life skills development were also discussed.
Mr Khan highlighted institutional platforms such as the National Youth Council and the National Volunteer Corps, which offer opportunities for inclusive representation, climate resilience initiatives, financial literacy and community level outreach.
Collaboration on capacity building of young women leaders and strengthening gender responsive youth governance was proposed.
Ms Iqbal appreciated PMYP’s strategic focus on mainstreaming gender across youth initiatives and highlighted UN Women’s ongoing work on women’s economic inclusion, leadership development and protection frameworks.
She expressed strong interest in structured coordination across multiple PMYP programmes focused on young women’s economic, digital and leadership empowerment.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen institutional cooperation, recognising that investing in young women is central to Pakistan’s sustainable and inclusive development.