Addressing a ceremony marking International Youth Day in Islamabad, the prime minister said the policy would help address the country’s growing youth population and equip young people with modern skills.

PM Shehbaz announced a 50% quota for women in the labour force under the policy. He also said 10% of the annual quota would be allocated to startups to encourage young people to pursue entrepreneurship.

The prime minister said Pakistan was living in an era driven by artificial intelligence, information technology and modern science. He stressed that young people needed access to the latest knowledge and skills to compete with developed countries.

He said the government would use all available resources to provide quality education and training opportunities to talented and deserving students.

PM Shehbaz also announced that 1,000 young people would be sent to China for training in artificial intelligence and information technology on merit. The government will bear all expenses, he said.

He said 700,000 laptops had so far been distributed among talented students, while 250,000 Chromebooks would be awarded to high-achieving students this year.

The prime minister also announced the establishment of a Daanish University in Islamabad. The university is expected to begin academic activities next year and will focus on technology, technical education and modern sciences.

He said admission to the university would be based on merit, regardless of students’ financial backgrounds, providing deserving youth with access to quality education.

PM Shehbaz said the government was also expanding the Daanish Schools network to backward and far-flung areas to provide quality education to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Referring to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he said equal opportunities in education, health and other fields were essential for Pakistan’s progress.

Earlier, Power Minister Sardar Ahmad Khan Leghari said the government was launching the National Power Sector Innovation Programme to support young people with innovative ideas that could benefit the power sector.

He said an employment digital platform would provide a springboard for innovative ideas, while Rs30 million would be given annually as awards to winning participants. He added that Rs1 billion had been allocated over the next three years to implement selected ideas.

Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan also addressed the ceremony and highlighted the Daanish education system and Punjab Education Endowment Fund as key initiatives in the education sector.

The prime minister also launched the Skills Ambassador Programme and presented awards to young achievers at the ceremony.

“The future is not something you wait for; the future is something you build,” PM Shehbaz told the youth, urging them to take an active role in shaping the country’s future.