QUETTA: The chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashood Ahmed Khan, announced on Monday that Pakistan aims to integrate up to 1.5 million youth into the global market and stressed that the government was working to equip Balochistan’s youth with the latest technology and skills.

Speaking at a ceremony at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engin­eering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Mr Khan praised the youth of Balochistan for their achievements in various fields despite facing numerous challenges.

The event, titled “Accessible Social Entrepreneurship for Balochistan’s Youth”, was organised with the support of the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF), the National Incubation Centre (NIC), BUITEMS, and other institutions. Among the prominent attendees were Kashif Irshad from the National Heritage and Culture Division and PPAF CEO Nadir Gul Barech.

Mr Khan announced the establishment of a National Youth Council to address youth issues and involve them in the decision-making process. He highlighted the government’s provision of interest-free loans through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, which he said had enabled millions of families to start small and medium businesses.

He highlighted the importance of unity and the role of youth in countering propaganda against Pakistan. “By engaging youth in healthy and educational activities, we can effectively counter the negative narratives against our country,” Mr Khan said.

Mr Khan noted that the current volume of Pakistan’s IT industry stood at Rs2.5 billion, and the government aimed to expand it to Rs25bn to meet global demand and create jobs for skilled youth.

On climate change, Mr Khan highlighted the severe impact of floods despite Pakistan’s minimal contribution to global emissions but regretted that international assistance was lacking. “We have decided to establish a National Volunteer Corps to address climate-related issues on our own,” he said.

Mr Barech, the PPAF CEO, highlighted his organisation’s collaboration with federal and provincial governments, supporting 10 million beneficiaries and providing loans to 200,000 families. He said PPAF’s initiatives had positively impacted over 400,000 students in rural and marginalised areas.

He emphasised the importance of private sector support in reducing unemployment, given that 65 per cent of Pakistan’s population is young.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2024