May 06, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1429

ISLAMABAD, May 5: The Ministry of Youth Affairs has finalised the draft of the national youth policy which makes it mandatory for all public and private organisations, companies and enterprises to provide internship to youths for at least five per cent of their sanctioned strength of officers.

The draft also requires all such organisations, companies and enterprises to pay to graduate internees stipends which should be equal to at least the government’s internship programme (at present Rs10,000 per month).

The ministry is now seeking suggestions on the draft which also wants to make it compulsory for all universities to provide on-campus jobs to at least five per cent of their full-time student population.

It seeks government intervention in making the universities set up offices which could place on jobs the students waiting for their graduation degrees.

The policy urges formation of city youth councils in major cities of the country, comprising 10 councillors representing different occupations.