Special meeting of KATI team with PM to be arranged: Mashood

KARACHI: Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashood has said that a special meeting will be arranged between a delegation of industrialists from the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) and the Prime Minister, enabling them to directly present their proposals for industrial development.

Efforts would also be made to release pending federal funding of Rs250 million for infrastructure improvement, he said while addressing industrialists at KATI.

The event was attended by KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Chairman KITE Limited Zahid Saeed, Senior Vice President Zahid Hamid, Vice President Muhammad Talha Ali, CEO KITE Ltd Saleem-uz-Zaman, Former Presidents and Chairmen Junaid Naqi and Masood Naqi, UBG President Zubair Tufail, Sindh Youth Programme Coordinator Dr Fahad Shafiq, Pakistan Muslim League-N Business Forum President Ishtiaq Baig, and other senior officials.

Rana Mashood said that more than 900,000 skilled workers were sent abroad for employment last year, while the target for the current year has been set at 2.1 million. He added that agreements are being finalised with countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and Middle Eastern states to facilitate overseas employment.

He said young people will be provided modern professional training including soft skills, social ethics, and vocational competencies. He noted that in the next three years, Japan alone will require over 700,000 skilled workers, while Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries will need more than 100,000 healthcare professionals and nurses.

He further stated that a Digital Youth Portal has been launched, registering over 800,000 young people, exceeding its operational capacity. The portal includes more than 4,000 organisations and has already facilitated over 100,000 job opportunities.

Rana Mashood announced that an internship programme is also being launched under which educated youth will be placed in industries for six months. During this period, the government will cover all expenses, and successful candidates may be offered permanent employment within the same organisations.

He added that beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s laptop scheme have successfully utilized e-commerce platforms to generate self-employment opportunities and are now productively engaged in economy.

Earlier, KATI President Muhammad Ikram Rajput said that initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme related to education, skill development, digital training, business support, easy loan schemes, and employment opportunities are laying the foundation for Pakistan’s bright future.

He emphasised that Pakistan’s large youth population is its most valuable asset, and with access to quality education, technical training, modern skills, and employment opportunities, they can become key drivers of economic growth and prosperity.

He added that KATI has always played a positive role in promoting industry, trade, employment, and human resource development, and believes that strong linkage between industry and youth is essential to align graduates with market needs.

Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya said that Pakistan’s global standing has improved after May 2025 and that the country has emerged as a peaceful mediator in recent international tensions.

He warned; however, that Pakistan risks missing a critical opportunity to strengthen its economy.

He noted that the Korangi Industrial Area contributes around 10 percent of Pakistan’s total exports and that this share could be increased with improved policies. He stressed that youth make up around 60 percent of Pakistan’s population, yet adequate employment opportunities remain limited.

He urged the government to urgently pursue industrialization policies, warning that Pakistan risks shifting from an industrial to a trading-based economy, which he termed concerning. He added that both the public and private sectors must work together to create opportunities for youth.

Chairman KITE Limited Zahid Saeed highlighted Pakistan’s strategic geographic position, ports, and airports as key advantages. He said Karachi’s exports stand at around USD16 billion and remittances from overseas Pakistanis remain a lifeline for the economy.

He added that vocational training for youth could increase remittances by USD4 billion annually, potentially reaching USD84 billion over the next decade. He also pointed out that a promised federal grant of Rs250 million to KITE Limited has yet to be released, although the Sindh government has provided Rs2 billion for development projects in the industrial area.

He said federal funding would significantly improve Karachi’s infrastructure and increase government revenue.

Senior Vice President KATI Zahid Hamid and Pakistan Muslim League-N Business Forum President Ishtiaq Baig also addressed the gathering.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026