LAHORE: The government is fully committed to convert the youth of Pakistan into an economic force as the country has the largest population of young people ever recorded in the history. Special Advisor to Prime Minister on Youth Affairs Usman Dar stated this while talking to All Pakistan Business Forum (APBF) President Syed Maaz Mahmood today. He said that huge investment is being made in the youth to capitalize the immense potential of the country.

Usman Dar said that first-ever comprehensive National Youth Development Framework (NYDF) had been developed to ensure quality education, gainful employment and meaningful engagement of youth in economic activities. There are three phases of a successful youth program; the first phase is of loan of Rs100, 000 to Rs1 million with a markup of only 3 percent. So far loans of Rs5.9 billion have been given to the youth. Under the Successful Youth Program Scheme, no political affiliation is taken into account for the loan, he added.

The advisor said that Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world. Currently, it has the largest population of young people ever recorded in national history. As many as 64 percent of Pakistanis are below the age of 30, and 29 per cent are aged between 15-29 years while the youth between 15-29 years make up 41.6 per cent of Pakistan's total labour force. Kamyab Jawan programme is aimed at polishing the skills and abilities of the youth so that they could emerge as job providers and economy boosters instead of job seekers, he said.

On the occasion, APBF President Syed Maaz Mahmood called for promoting technical and skills development in the country, stating that only skilled youth can match the private sector's human resource requirements, besides uplifting national economy especially in post-corona economic slowdown.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2020