ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP):Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan on Friday met former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Hamza Shehbaz Sharif to discuss government initiatives for youth employment, skills development, entrepreneurship and access to emerging opportunities, with both leaders stressing the need to ensure equal opportunities for young people across all provinces and regions. The meeting focused on strengthening youth-focused policies and …
Rana Mashhood, Hamza Shehbaz meet, call for wider youth opportunities
ISLAMABAD, Aug 28 (APP):Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan on Friday met former Punjab chief minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Hamza Shehbaz Sharif to discuss government initiatives for youth employment, skills development, entrepreneurship and access to emerging opportunities, with both leaders stressing the need to ensure equal opportunities for young people across all provinces and regions.
The meeting focused on strengthening youth-focused policies and programmes in line with local economic needs, skills and employment trends, while improving outreach through modern communication channels and multiple languages.
Rana Mashhood said the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme was giving special attention to creating employment, developing skills, promoting entrepreneurship and connecting young people with modern opportunities.
He said the programme’s 4Es framework, which are Education, Employment, Engagement and Empowerment, is driving various initiatives aimed at improving opportunities and participation for the country’s youth.
“The priority of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme is not merely to increase employment figures but to create productive employment for young people,” he said.
Mr Mashhood said youth were being equipped with modern skills according to the requirements of current and future job markets.
He noted that the impact of policies and programmes designed for young people often became visible over time.
He said several young people who had benefited from the laptop scheme were now earning in pounds and dollars through freelancing.
The chairman said the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme had formulated the National Youth Employment Policy, National E-Sports Policy and National Adolescent and Youth Policy to address emerging needs and expand opportunities for young people.
He said the Digital Youth Hub had been established to connect youth with opportunities in the digital age, with more than 850,000 young people already registered on the platform.
Mr Mashhood said providing equal opportunities to young people from all provinces and regions remained a priority.
Special programmes were being developed by keeping in view their local needs, skills and employment trends, he added.
Hamza Shehbaz appreciated the initiatives being taken by Rana Mashhood under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and stressed the need to ensure equal opportunities for young people from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other regions according to their needs, capabilities and local economic opportunities.
He also called for the government’s message to young people to be delivered effectively through modern communication trends and in different languages to improve outreach.
The two sides underscored the importance of expanding access to education, skills, employment, entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities for young people across the country.
