Islamabad: In a bid to empower the nation’s youth, the government has launched several initiatives focused on skill development, according to Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program. Speaking at a seminar in Islamabad, Khan highlighted the impact of the Skill Development Programme, now one of the country’s largest, underscoring the government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for young people.

Khan emphasized the success of the ‘Digital Youth Hub’ portal, noting that over 600,000 young individuals have registered on the platform. The app, which has been downloaded two million times, also boasts registration from more than 700,000 local and international companies, facilitating a bridge between youth and potential employers.

At the same seminar, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, discussed the demographic makeup of Pakistan, where 64% of the population is under 30 years old. He stressed the potential of this demographic dividend and the urgent need to address the gap between the two to three million young people who enter the labor market annually and the current national training capacity of approximately 400,000.

The government remains resolute in its efforts to address this gap, aiming to harness the potential of the youth for national development.