Islamabad, 12 August 2026(Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday launched the country’s first National Youth Employment Policy, Skill Ambassador Programme and National Power Sector Innovation Programme, reaffirming the government’s commitment to equipping young people with education, skills and employment opportunities.
Addressing a ceremony held in connection with International Youth Day, the Prime Minister said the youth were the nation’s greatest hope and would not be left behind in Pakistan’s journey towards development and prosperity.
He stressed that equal access to quality education was essential for national progress, saying no talented child should be deprived of higher education merely because of financial constraints.
The Prime Minister said the government had taken a number of initiatives to provide quality education to underprivileged children, including the establishment of Daanish Schools. He said the standard of education at Daanish Schools was comparable to leading educational institutions and that thousands of students graduating from these schools were now pursuing careers as doctors, engineers and teachers.
He announced that a Daanish University was being established in Islamabad, with classes expected to commence next year. The university would have a strong focus on technology, technical and vocational education and would provide opportunities to talented students on merit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said more than 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among deserving and talented students, while another 250,000 Chromebooks would be provided to high-performing students across the country during the current year.
He said the government was also sending talented students to China for advanced education and training. This year, 1,000 students who had demonstrated outstanding performance in Matriculation, FA and FSc examinations would be sent to China for education and training in information technology and artificial intelligence. All expenses would be borne by the government, with selection strictly based on merit.
The Prime Minister said that 1,000 agricultural graduates from all four provinces had been sent to China for training last year, and another 1,000 young graduates would be sent this year.
Emphasising the importance of modern skills, he said the present era belonged to technical education, information technology and artificial intelligence. Pakistan would have to rapidly expand its capacity in these fields if it wanted to remain competitive in the global economy.
Announcing the National Youth Employment Policy, the Prime Minister said a 35 percent quota for women had been incorporated into the labour force framework. The policy would also encourage young people to become entrepreneurs rather than relying solely on conventional employment opportunities, with a 10 percent annual quota to be allocated for startups.
He said the government had allocated substantial resources in the current budget for youth development and prosperity and would utilise every available resource to create opportunities for the country’s young population.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan was created with the vision of establishing a welfare state where citizens would have equal rights and opportunities for development. However, he acknowledged that the country still had a considerable distance to travel to achieve that objective.
He called upon provincial governments to establish high-quality educational institutions on the model of Daanish Schools so that children from Karachi to Peshawar and from Gilgit-Baltistan to Balochistan could receive equal opportunities for quality education.
Referring to Pakistan’s future, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the country was created in 1947 through the sacrifices and struggle of its elders, while “Pakistan of 2047” would be shaped by the vision, energy, talent and determination of its youth.
“Laptop is not merely a machine; it is a mission,” he said, reiterating his resolve to continue investing in the higher education, skills development and dignified employment of young Pakistanis.
The ceremony was also addressed by Federal Minister for Power Division Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari and Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan.
A special video highlighting the vision for Pakistan in 2047 was screened during the ceremony, while the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting presented a special national song prepared for the youth.
The Prime Minister distributed certificates among members of the core task force of the National Employment Policy and presented awards to position holders of Daanish Schools and young people who had achieved distinction in various fields.
He also appreciated Muhammad Qasim, a talented student of Daanish School Fazilpur, for securing first position in the Science Group and second position overall in the SSC Part-II examinations conducted by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Lahore.