A high-level meeting of the National Coordination Committee on National Youth Employment Policy (NYEP) was held at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Islamabad, under the chairmanship of the Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan.
The meeting was attended by senior representatives of federal ministries, provincial Youth Affairs Departments, public-sector institutions, academia and development partners. Dr. Muhammad Ali Malik, Joint Secretary, along with senior members of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, also participated in the meeting.
The National Youth Employment Policy (NYEP) is a milestone initiative aimed at creating sustainable employment opportunities and empowering Pakistan’s youth, including 32.4 million NEET youth. The policy seeks to align young people’s skills with real market demands and high-growth sectors, with a target of 100 percent absorption of new labour-force entrants by 2030 and an increase in female labour force participation to 35 percent. It also focuses on 10 priority sectors, including IT, e-commerce, agriculture, construction, health, logistics and overseas employment.
The meeting reviewed the implementation plan of the National Youth Employment Policy, focusing on key priorities and measures to strengthen employment and economic opportunities for Pakistan’s youth. Participants discussed the responsibility and monitoring matrix to define the roles of relevant stakeholders and ensure effective coordination in carrying out the policy’s actions.
The committee also considered proposals for enhancing the NYEP, with particular focus on collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, academia, skills development organizations and development partners. Representatives shared their views, suggestions and recommendations on areas requiring greater coordination and support.
The proposed monitoring and coordination mechanism was also discussed to facilitate regular follow-up and effective coordination between federal and provincial stakeholders.
Representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industries and Production, Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Planning Commission, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Board of Investment, Higher Education Commission, State Bank of Pakistan, National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Technology for People Initiative, LUMS, GIZ, and Provincial Youth Affairs Departments participated in the meeting.
The Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme stressed the importance of whole-of-government coordination, clear accountability and result-oriented implementation of the policy. He highlighted the need for stronger linkages among government, industry, academia and other stakeholders to ensure that the country’s youth can benefit from improved employment, skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen institutional coordination and advance the implementation of the National Youth Employment Policy for the economic empowerment and greater participation of Pakistan’s youth.
