ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led a meeting to review the National Youth Employment Plan and approved the plan to provide youth with training programmes as per the market and industry needs.
The meeting discussed a plan to offer training and job opportunities to youth through different organizations over the next four years. The prime minister said he would lead a monthly review meeting and check on the plan’s progress, according to a news release from the Prime Minister’s Office.
During the meeting, the prime minister said that skilled young people are important for the country. He added that the government is helping them by providing training and skills. He also said the government is working to send trained workers abroad by giving them good training.
The prime minister told officials to work closely with local industries to train youth in different areas. He asked them to carefully look at what international organizations need for workers. He also told officials to create a detailed list of skills needed by local industries.
The meeting learned that over the next four years, between 2.4 million and six million young people would get help finding jobs through training each year. The meeting was told that the training would focus on what the market, industries, and international job needs require.
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It was also shared that the government’s Digital Youth Hub project is almost ready and will start this month. The prime minister thanked the ministries and organizations working on the plan.
Smeda Progress Review:
In a separate meeting about the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (Smeda), PM Shehbaz said the government is focusing on supporting small and medium businesses.
Following the prime minister’s instructions, small businesses are now included in the SME sector, and a detailed policy is being prepared. He asked for new skilled workers to be hired from the market for Smeda.
He said that while following a fair process, workers meeting international standards should be hired for Smeda and paid according to market rates. The prime minister said Smeda is important for improving the rural economy and that a plan should be made to give interest-free loans to rural people.
He also ordered that all federal training institutes should be combined into one organization. The meeting was updated on changes happening in Smeda. It was shared that, as the prime minister wanted, more private sector members are being added to the Smeda board.
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The ministry of commerce and Smeda are working together to find export-related companies, as instructed by the prime minister. A clear performance management system is being set up in Smeda.
Following the prime minister’s guidance, Smeda held 28 seminars and training sessions, with 953 people taking part. The meeting was told that a financial literacy program for the SME sector is starting, and experts have been hired for it.
An export support program is also beginning to help increase SME exports. A legal framework for subcontracting in the SME sector is being prepared, and hiring for it will start soon.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Federal Minister for Industry and Production Rana Tanvir Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister Haroon Akhtar, Chairman of PM Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, and senior officials attended the meeting.
