ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif revealed on Wednesday that the government is implementing priority measures to align Pakistan’s workforce skills with international standards. His remarks came during a meeting with a delegation from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), led by Global Chief Executive Helen Brand.

The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan is endowed with a youthful and talented workforce, and emphasized the government’s commitment to enabling them to fully realize their potential. Improving governance and equipping young workers with necessary skills are top priorities for the administration, he said. Sharif also highlighted the importance of third-party validation in public sector projects to ensure transparency and governance.

The Prime Minister acknowledged the recent improvement in Pakistan’s credit rating by Fitch, viewing it as a positive development, but stressed the need for continued hard work. He suggested that the ACCA could play a significant role in providing professional training to enhance the global competitiveness of Pakistani workers.

He assured the ACCA delegation of government support for efforts aimed at improving the efficiency of government institutions. The Prime Minister also instructed relevant authorities to boost cooperation with the ACCA and develop a future action plan.

The ACCA delegation briefed the Prime Minister on its contributions to Pakistan’s economic development, emphasizing the international achievements of its 13,000 Pakistani members. The group expressed a strong interest in supporting Pakistan’s green economy transformation plan and indicated their willingness to collaborate in areas such as climate change, revenue enhancement, transparency, and innovation in accountancy and audit.

The delegation commended the government’s economic achievements under Prime Minister Sharif’s leadership and expressed eagerness to work closely on these initiatives.