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ith over 64 percent of its population under the age of 30, Pakistan stands at the cusp of a demographic opportunity. This youth bulge could serve as a powerful engine of economic growth only if harnessed well. Yet, for many young Pakistanis, especially those from marginalised communities, the promise of economic inclusion remains just that—a promise.
Across the country, young people are grappling with a host of challenges including high unemployment rates; unequal access to education and skills; a growing digital divide; and a shrinking space for civic participation. For young women, transgender individuals, persons with disabilities and those from informal worker households, these hurdles are even steeper.
Recognising the critical role the youth play in shaping Pakistan’s future, the government has unveiled an updated National Youth Policy, anchored in four key pillars of education, employment, entrepreneurship and social-political engagement. It is a roadmap that aims to modernise vocational education, promote digital literacy, support school-to-work transitions and introduce targeted schemes like internships, green initiatives and leadership fellowships.
Parallel to this, the National Youth Employment Plan, finalised in early 2025, under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment. The plan focuses on market-aligned vocational training, business startup support, internships and job placements, both at home and abroad.
At the heart of this transformation lies the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme with skills for the 21st Century implemented by the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission. This flagship initiative blends conventional trade skills with high-tech training in areas like IT, artificial intelligence and smart technologies. Through accredited apprenticeships, digital labs and a national job portal called NEXT, the programme offers a structured pathway from classroom to career.
Beyond federal efforts, initiatives like the Punjab Skills Development Fund have brought vocational training to the grassroots, reaching over 80,000 youth annually; nearly half of them women.
In a world increasingly defined by algorithms and online marketplaces, digital skills are no longer optional. Programmes such as e-Rozgar and the National Freelance Training Programme train young graduates in freelancing, e-commerce, UI/ UX design and content marketing. The Presidential Initiative for Artificial Intelligence and Computing aims to equip 100,000 young people with expertise in AI, block-chain and cloud computing.
These platforms are not only building employable skills, they are unlocking new income streams, especially for young people in remote or underserved areas.
Pakistan’s growing incubation ecosystem is emerging as a culture of innovation aiming to help foster a new wave of youth-led startups. The National Incubation Centres in cities across the country provide mentorship, training and seed funding for budding entrepreneurs. Complementary schemes like Kamyab Jawan and Youth Innovation Funds have further fuelled enterprise growth, particularly in rural and agriculture-linked sectors.
Initiatives like the Punjab Skills Development Fund have brought vocational training to the grassroots, reaching over 80,000 youth annually; nearly half of them women.
At a global level, partnerships with organisations like the UNDP, the USAID, the GIZ and the World Bank have brought in technical expertise and financial support to strengthen Pakistan’s youth development agenda.
This renewed focus on youth empowerment is backed by unprecedented public investment. In 2025 alone, the government allocated Rs 19 billion to youth skills training and disbursed over Rs 203 billion in loans to more than 278,000 students and young entrepreneurs.
Funding the future remains a challenge for resolving systemic gaps in the demand driven market. Absence of a cohesive supply chain model for filling up market driven employment, provisions of job security, protection at work places and moreover growth prospects remain a huge point of concern.
There remains a concerning mismatch between the skills young people are taught and the jobs that actually exist. Access to quality training and employment remains uneven, especially for women, the youth in rural areas and those from the informal economy. Many vocational institutions struggle with outdated curricula, limited faculty training and weak links to industry. While pilot programmes show promise, they often lack the scale or continuity to bring nationwide change.
Youth invisibility poses another major challenge. For youth growing up in households where home-based work or informal labour is the norm, the barriers are even more profound. These young people, especially girls, are often excluded from the formal job market, disconnected from digital spaces and absent from community decision-making.
There is another pressing concern. As Pakistan faces intensifying climate disasters, floods, droughts and rising temperatures, young people remain largely excluded from climate resilience planning. Despite being among the most vulnerable, they are rarely seen as partners in building solutions.
To fully realise the potential of its youth, Pakistan must go beyond slogans and short-term projects. What is needed is a comprehensive, sustained approach that:
n Aligns TVET curricula with market demand.
n Expands digital access and freelancing opportunities across provinces.
n Incentivizes participation by women, rural youth and persons with disabilities.
n Strengthens partnerships between government, industry and civil society.
n Builds robust monitoring systems to track outcomes, not just enrollment numbers.
n Invests in youth overseas employment.
Moreover, climate resilience should be integrated into youth programming. From eco-entrepreneurship to community-based disaster preparedness, the next generation has much to offer in crafting a more sustainable future.
The road ahead for Pakistan is the youth; not just as leaders of tomorrow but also as drivers of today’s economic and social transformation. With the right and timely investment, inclusive policies and a long-term vision, this rising generation can turn the country’s demographic curve into a developmental one.
The clock is ticking. The question is no longer whether Pakistan’s youth can lead the way; it’s whether the country is ready to follow their lead.
The writer can be reached at lailazharaligmail.com.