PM launches Pakistan's first National Youth Employment Policy

August 13, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan's first National Youth Employment Policy was formally launched, aimed at expanding employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people, with a 50% quota set aside for women in the labour force and 10% of the annual quota allocated to startups to encourage youth to pursue business ventures over conventional employment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif unveiled the policy while addressing the launching ceremony in Islamabad, said a press release issued.

The prime minister said 1,000 boys and girls would be sent to China for training in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence on merit, with all expenses borne by the government.

He said 700,000 laptops had so far been distributed among talented students, with 250,000 Chromebooks to be distributed among high-achieving students this year.

Shehbaz Sharif said Daanish Schools had been established across Pakistan to provide Aitchison College-level education to deserving students, adding that a new Daanish University was being set up in Islamabad, with classes expected to commence next year.

The university will focus on technology and technical education, with greater emphasis on modern sciences, he said, noting that admission would be based purely on merit, regardless of students' financial backgrounds, enabling deserving students to access quality education.

On the occasion, the prime minister also launched the National Power Sector Innovation Programme and the Skills Ambassador Programme.

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