ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The government is working on a project to set up national authority for technical and vocational education to promote skill development among youth, Education Minister Zobaida Jalal said on Thursday.

She was speaking as chief guest at a function organized in connection with the International Youth Day. The event was organized by the All Pakistan Youth Federation in collaboration with the youth affairs ministry at the national library auditorium.

"Within next six months, the authority will be in place to formulate policies for the promotion of skill-oriented education system," Ms Jalal said. With the setting up of the authority, young people will not only be provided opportunities of vocational education, but also small loans to start their own business at limited level, she said.

Referring to the national youth policy, which is yet to be unveiled, the education minister informed the gathering that it would be ready in the next three months and presented to the federal cabinet for approval.

"The education ministry is also waiting anxiously for the national youth policy, as we are ready to extend a helping hand to the ministry of youth affairs for its effective implementation," she said.

Talking about the importance of the International Youth Day, the minister said: "It also gives me immense pleasure that the proposal to celebrate the youth day every year was put forth by the Pakistani delegation in the UN World Young Assembly held in Vienna in 1992, which was lately accepted in 1999."

Everybody knows young people are key agents for social change, economic development and technological innovations. They are an asset that needs adequate utilization.

In Pakistan, the population of youth between age of 15 and 29 years is estimated to be 25 per cent of the total population, and they perform three types of roles i.e. productive, reproductive and social. Thus, they are vibrant segment of any society, she said.