overty continues to cast a long shadow in Pakistan. A 2025 World Bank report notes that nearly 45 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Based on updated global thresholds for lower-middle-income countries, around 16.5 percent of Pakistanis live in extreme poverty, surviving on less than $3 a day. These figures are based on data from before the Covid-19 pandemic and do not account for the increased cost of living, economic slowdown or disasters like the 2022 floods. Most experts believe that the situation is worse today.

One of the most effective ways to fight poverty is by giving people skills that can help them earn a decent living. Skill development allows the youth and women to get jobs, start small businesses or seek work abroad. This does not just reduce poverty it also contributes to long-term economic growth.

According to the World Bank, Pakistan’s NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) rate for the youth (15-29 year olds) was 34.56 percent in 2021. The rate is even higher among youth from underprivileged backgrounds, especially girls in rural areas, who often lack access to education, mobility and or job opportunities.

Recognising this, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), under the dynamic leadership of Senator Rubina Khalid, is taking a bold step beyond cash assistance. Known for her commitment to social protection and women’s empowerment, the BISP Chairperson has championed initiatives that offer long-term impact. In 2025, BISP launched the Benazir Hunarmand Program (BHP), a skills training initiative for its beneficiaries and their families. The goal is not just to offer training, but to prepare people for real employment opportunities, both in Pakistan and abroad.

The BHP focuses on trades that are in demand, such as construction, healthcare, hospitality, IT, and others. It also pays special attention to women and youth in rural areas. Most importantly, it aims to provide certifications that are internationally accepted, making it easier for graduates to compete in the global job market. However, finding training institutions in Pakistan that meet international standards remains a challenge.

Currently countries like Germany are seeking skilled migrant workers. In 2024 Germany faced a shortage of 570,000 skilled workers across various sectors. They are looking to fill this gap through immigration. This could be a golden opportunity for Pakistan. Are we ready to seize it?

At the moment, the answer is: not entirely. According to 2024 data from the Bureau of Emigration, over 800,000 Pakistanis migrate for work each year, mostly to the Gulf. But 58 percent of them are unskilled. This means they often end up in low-wage jobs. Meanwhile, countries like India and the Philippines have invested heavily in skill development and internationally accepted certifications. As a result, their migrant workers earn more, send home larger remittances, and are in greater demand.

Recent figures from Germany show this clearly. According to the German Economic Institute, Die Welt, and Deutsche Welle, the median monthly salary of Indian migrants in Germany in 2023 was €5,359, while the average German worker earned €3,945. Pakistani migrants, by comparison, had a median salary of just €2,979. The key difference is qualifications. Many Indian migrants work in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) which are in high demand globally and pay well.

Pakistan’s education system is not aligned with the opportunity. At a recent closed-door consultation with professors from leading universities, it was revealed that the employment rate of IT graduates is over 90 percent. For social science graduates it is less than 50 percent. This highlights the need to link training and education to the job market.

Pakistan’s technical and vocational education system has major gaps. According to the National Skills Information System, only 4 percent of the youth are enrolled in skill education, compared to 69 percent in general education. Yet, the TVET graduates are far more likely to get jobs. A 2023 study by GIZ and the Bureau of Emigration found that 70 percent of vocational training graduates find work. They generate nearly 80 percent of Pakistan’s labour remittances.

The National Vocational and Technical Training Commission, under the leadership of Gulmina Bilal, has been working to improve the quality and recognition of skills training in Pakistan. Her efforts to introduce internationally benchmarked certifications, modernise curricula and coordinate with the private sector are commendable. But challenges remain especially when it comes to scale, quality assurance and industry linkages.

To strengthen the outcomes, the BISP is building strategic partnerships with the NAVTTC and provincial the TEVTAs, aligning the Benazir Hunarmand Programme with national skills strategies. Such coordination is essential to ensure that training leads to jobs, at home and abroad.

Programmes like the BHP are trying to change the narrative. With a focus on international certification, job placement and demand-driven skills, it represents a much-needed shift in direction. The BISP decision to support families not just through cash, but also through skills, is both timely and visionary. For it to succeed, the entire ecosystem around training from curriculum to institutions to job matching must improve.

Examples from the region offer useful lessons. The Philippines created its TESDA system to offer training that leads directly to jobs, especially overseas. Bangladesh aligned training with the garment and construction sectors. India has focused on STEM and global certification, helping its workforce earn more abroad.

Pakistan can do the same, but it requires planning, coordination and smart investment. Training alone isn’t enough. People also need follow-up support tools, mentorship and links to jobs or markets. A woman in Khairpur who completed a tailoring course couldn’t afford a sewing machine, so she earns less than Rs 2,000 per month from occasional work. Her case shows that skills must be matched with opportunities.

The good news is that Pakistan does not lack talent, only the systems to develop and support it. Programmes like the Benazir Hunarmand Programme offer a chance to break the cycle of poverty by turning income support beneficiaries into wage earners. If Pakistan wants to prepare its people for the future, at home or abroad, it must treat skill development as a national priority.

The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist, researcher and media trainer. A former Daniel Pearl/AFPP fellow, he shared in The LA Times’ 2016 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. He tweets @AounSahi