Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday said that Pakistan was “still far” from becoming a social welfare state, which he said was the original purpose of the country’s formation.

The premier was speaking at an event in Islamabad to mark International Youth Day 2026, observed on August 12.

He also inaugurated several initiatives for the youth, including the Power Sector Innovation Programme, the National Youth Employment Policy and the Skills Ambassador Programme.

As part of the National Youth Employment Policy, the premier announced that a 35 per cent quota would be specified for women in the labour force. Every year, a 10pc quota will be specified for startups as well to facilitate youth in starting their own businesses, he said.

In his speech, PM Shehbaz said that Daanish schools were a step towards making Pakistan a country where young people would have equal opportunities for advancement, irrespective of their financial status.

He said that during his tenure as Punjab chief minister, he had established Daanish schools to improve access to quality education for the poor.

“How unfortunate is it that, on the one hand, there is a Pakistan for the children of the elite, who not only receive the best education in Pakistan but also attend the best international institutions in the UK and North America?

“Contrastingly, there is another Pakistan where millions of parents’ children, who desperately want an education, are not provided even basic educational opportunities.”

Today, thousands of graduates of Daanish schools are doctors, engineers and teachers, he said. The PM said that progress being achieved through Daanish schools was a realisation of the dream that Quaid-i-Azam had for Pakistan.

Addressing the Daanish school students present in the audience, he said, “the largest part of Pakistan’s population is you. And if we could not give you essential skills, then we won’t be forgiven in this world or the next.”

PM Shehbaz mentioned that in this year’s budget, an amount has been specified for youth empowerment and development.

Like last year, 1,000 high-achieving students will be sent to China this year for agriculture education, the premier said. He announced that in addition, this year, high-achieving students would be given a state-funded opportunity to study IT and AI in China.

He also announced that “Pakistan’s top university” is being established in Pakistan, to be named Daanish University. It would be focused on technology education.

Education at Daanish University will be provided free of cost, only based on merit, the premier said.

PM Shehbaz added that 250,000 high-achieving students all over Pakistan would be awarded Chromebook laptops this year.

He commented that his laptop scheme, when it was first started in Punjab, was criticised but, he added, the programme has allowed the youth to gain advancement opportunities.

“Today, I, in front of the youth, promise that until Allah has given me the responsibility to serve the nation, I will do everything in my power for your prosperity and employment.

“Our ancestors built Pakistan in 1947, and the Pakistan of 2047 will be built by your vision and energy,” the premier told the students attending the event.

Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan also spoke at the event, where he said, “We work day and night for our youth.”

He praised PM Shehbaz for providing opportunities for the youth during his tenure as chief minister of Punjab and commended the premier’s leadership in advancing Pakistan, adding that under his leadership, no one could stop the country from moving forward.

“The world is talking about Pakistan’s progress today,” he said.