Govt committed to empower youth

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said the government of Pakistan is fully committed to empowering youth through a range of transformative initiatives.

Addressing the inaugural session of the Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance (CAYA) Summit in Islamabad on Tuesday, he stated these initiatives include such as our flagship ‘Youth Programme’ which has empowered millions of our boys and girls not only in Punjab but all over Pakistan.

The Prime Minister added the future of our nations undeniably rests in the hands of our youth, who are more than 60 percent of the Commonwealth population.

He further said through vigorous training and equipping these hands with the most modern technology and techniques, these hands must become great hands.

He also stated this will enable our youth in the Commonwealth countries to carve out a peaceful, progressive, and prosperous future.

Shehbaz Sharif continued to say as a founding member, Pakistan attaches great importance to the Commonwealth and its institutions. Commonwealth Asia Youth Alliance is an important platform for forging consensus and developing partnerships in the face of unprecedented global challenges.  

He said Pakistan has a youth bulge and we fully appreciate and understand this potential. He said we must provide them with platforms and opportunities that empower them to be active contributors to national building efforts and policy making.

The Prime Minister said the role of youth in shaping the development of a nation is undeniable. He said we had initiated lots of programs like the ‘Punjab Education Endowment Fund’ through which high achievers in Punjab and other areas of the country got stipends to get high-quality higher education.  

He also mentioned ‘Daanish Schools’, saying that these schools are now being extended to Islamabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and remote areas Azad Kashmir. He said under the umbrella of the Youth Programme, the government distributed almost 600,000 Laptops among high achievers.

Concluding his speech, the Prime Minister urged the youth to dream boldly, act with courage, work relentlessly, and have faith in the spirit of conviction. He said the youth are the pioneers of our future, who will unlock vistas of opportunities through their knowledge and experience for Pakistan's wellbeing and prosperity.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister administered oath to the newly elected body of the National Youth Council and distributed awards among high achievers from different fields.