ISLAMABAD: On Tuesday, the government launched 15 youth-focused programmes worth Rs150 billion, some of which have been running for years.
The Prime Minister’s Youth Development Initiatives now cover all schemes.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal launched the rollout on Tuesday without Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The 15 youth development initiatives include 60,000 internships, technical and vocational training for 100,000 youths. 100,000 laptops, 5,000 scholarships for students of Balochistan. The erstwhile Fata, 1,000 PhD scholarships at the top 100 US universities 75 Scholarships at the top 25 global universities. 21 university campuses in remote districts, 250 sports complexes, youth peace and development student councils in 80 universities, 75 leadership awards, 500 inns,
Mr. Iqbal told the ceremony attendees that two-thirds of the country’s population is young people who must be empowered through education and skills to contribute to socio-economic development.
He hoped the country would use the youth bulge to grow the economy until 2050.
Empowered Youth
While, Pakistan’s largest internship programme, Prime Minister’s Ba-Ikhtiyar Naujawan (Empowered Youth), addresses market entry barriers and boosts employability. Young graduates will receive 60,000 paid internships in public and private sectors under this programme.
Moreover, This included 30,000 internships in public sector development projects at Rs9.6bn. 30,000 in the private industrial sector at Rs9bn through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for up to a year.
At Rs10bn, 100,000 youth would receive free laptops. These projects are in addition to the Rs87bn the government approved for development schemes in the constituencies of 174 MNAs supporting the prime minister.
The Talented Youth Internship Programme would give 30,000 unemployed, graduated youth a Rs25,000-per-month private sector internship for six months at a cost of Rs9bn through the Public Sector Development Programme.
Moreover, The government revived a laptop project for 100,000 youth, including 20,000 in Balochistan. The government would also fully fund 75 bright students admitted to the top 25 universities.
