Islamabad, 28 April 2026(Ghufran): Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, addressed the SIA Summit 2.0 as Chief Guest in Islamabad today, underscoring the vital role of youth and women in shaping Pakistan’s economic future. The summit, titled “Building a Women-Led Social Enterprise Ecosystem in Pakistan,” brought together key stakeholders committed to advancing social innovation and inclusive growth. It was organized by the Social Innovation Academy in collaboration with partners including UN Women and OGDCL. In his address, the Chairman appreciated the efforts of the organizers and partners for creating a meaningful platform to promote women-led initiatives. He commended their contributions toward empowering communities and fostering entrepreneurship across the country. Reflecting on Pakistan’s development trajectory, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan noted that the country stands at a pivotal moment of progress and global re-engagement. He emphasized that this is a critical time for Pakistan’s youth—particularly women—to step forward and assume leadership roles in economic development.
Highlighting past initiatives, he shared his experience of advancing women empowerment projects during the tenure of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif as Chief Minister of Punjab, noting that these efforts laid a strong foundation for gender inclusion in the province. He reiterated that empowering youth and women remains a cornerstone of Pakistan’s economic strategy. Citing international examples, he noted that increased participation of women in the workforce contributes significantly to economic growth and stressed the need for Pakistan to follow a similar path. The Chairman announced that Pakistan’s first-ever National Youth Employment Policy has been approved by the federal cabinet and will be launched soon. The policy aims to ensure at least 35% representation of women in the labor force across various sectors. He further highlighted that the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme has reserved a 25% quota for women nationwide, with encouraging results already visible in provinces such as Punjab and Sindh, while acknowledging the need for further progress in other regions.
To support women entrepreneurs, the government is also establishing facilitation centers to provide opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and sustainable enterprise development. Concluding his remarks, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building an inclusive ecosystem where youth and women can thrive and contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s socio-economic development.