By Irfan Siddiqi
ISLAMABAD: In a significant step towards addressing youth unemployment and enhancing Pakistan’s global workforce, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has unveiled an ambitious strategy aimed at creating employment opportunities for skilled Pakistanis in international markets. The initiative, backed by institutional reforms and digital innovation, is being implemented with active support from Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan.
Chairing a high-level review meeting on youth employment, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that Pakistan’s young population is one of the country’s greatest strengths. He directed all Pakistani embassies abroad to intensify efforts to identify employment opportunities for Pakistani professionals and skilled workers while ensuring that relevant information is made available to job seekers through modern digital platforms.
“The future of Pakistan depends on empowering its youth with internationally recognized skills, certifications, and access to global employment markets,” the Prime Minister said, while instructing the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, NAVTTC, and the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme to work in close coordination.
The Prime Minister also ordered the complete digitization of the Protectorate of Emigration system to simplify overseas employment procedures, improve transparency, and make the entire process more efficient for aspiring workers.
A comprehensive briefing during the meeting was presented by Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, who outlined the progress made under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme. According to him, the Digital Youth Hub has already attracted more than 800,000 registered young Pakistanis, making it one of the country’s largest platforms connecting youth with education, skills development, entrepreneurship, scholarships, and employment opportunities.
Rana Mashhood informed the meeting that substantial employment opportunities currently exist for Pakistani professionals in sectors including construction, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, transport, biotechnology, manufacturing, shipbuilding, information technology, engineering, nursing, pharmaceuticals, and food processing. He said specialized training programmes are already underway to prepare young Pakistanis for these international markets.
Under the government’s new strategy, Pakistani embassies across the world will regularly upload verified information about overseas vacancies, required qualifications, and skill requirements to the Digital Youth Hub. This integrated approach is expected to bridge the information gap between employers abroad and skilled Pakistani workers seeking international careers.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif further directed that language training and internationally recognized certifications be introduced for countries where demand for Pakistani workers is increasing. He also instructed NAVTTC to submit a detailed report on the performance of technical and vocational institutions and on the establishment of Country of Destination Centres to better prepare workers before they leave Pakistan.
Government officials believe the initiative represents a shift from traditional labour export towards the development of a highly skilled and internationally competitive workforce. By combining technical education, language proficiency, digital services, and diplomatic engagement, the government hopes to significantly increase overseas employment while boosting remittances and strengthening Pakistan’s economy.
Observers say the collaboration between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan reflects a coordinated approach to youth empowerment. While the Prime Minister has provided the strategic direction, Rana Mashhood has played a central role in expanding the Digital Youth Hub and integrating employment, skills training, and career development into a single nationwide platform.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Dr. Musadik Malik, Attaullah Tarar, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, NAVTTC Chairman Raja Qamar-ul-Islam, and other senior officials. Participants reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preparing Pakistani youth for the evolving demands of the international labour market.
With overseas employment emerging as a key pillar of Pakistan’s economic strategy, the government’s latest initiative aims not only to create opportunities for young people but also to position Pakistan as a reliable source of skilled professionals for the global economy.
