Pakistan fosters supportive environment for youth for socio-economic development

ISLAMABAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) — With over 60 percent of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan is committed to foster a supportive environment for young people to promote social and economic development of the South Asian country, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday.
Young individuals nationwide are catalysts for transformation and hold the key to our future. By harnessing technology for education, entrepreneurship, and social activism, young people can become agents for positive change within their communities, Sharif said in his message on International Youth Day being celebrated Monday.
The prime minister said the government has taken all the obligatory steps and ensured an all-encompassing support framework for Pakistani youth to have necessary resources to achieve success and thrive.
“The country has introduced the youth loan and agricultural scheme, which is now yielding significant results. To date, approximately 186 billion rupees (about 668 million U.S. dollars) have been disbursed to over 280,000 young entrepreneurs, generating a multitude of job opportunities nationwide,” he said.
In the era of information technology, Sharif said a comprehensive youth program has been introduced, which takes a holistic approach, equipping young individuals with essential skills as well as providing advanced technology.
“With a huge youth bulge, Pakistan boasts a youthful demographic that is increasingly connected to the global digital landscape,” he said, adding that youth adopting digital pathways would further empower them to turn their aspirations into tangible outcomes, paving the way for a sustainable and equitable future. ■