Govt launches ‘Pur Azm Pakistan’ to expand youth skills and employment opportunities

ISLAMABAD: The federal government, through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), has launched “Pur Azm Pakistan”, a national platform aimed at expanding access to skills development, employment, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities for young people across the country.

The initiative has been launched in partnership with Unicef and Generation Unlimited (GenU) and seeks to bring together the government, private sector, development partners and youth to create stronger pathways from education to employment.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said Pakistan’s young population represents the country’s greatest strength and opportunity.

He said the platform would help build a coordinated national system linking education, skills and employment, ensuring that young people have access to meaningful opportunities and can contribute to the country’s economic growth.

According to organisers, nearly 67% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30, while an estimated 32 million young people are currently not in education, employment or training.

The initiative aims to address this challenge by expanding access to skills development, employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, with a particular focus on girls and young people from underserved communities.

Pernille Ironside said Pakistan has a historic opportunity to transform its large youth population into a demographic dividend by creating pathways from learning to earning.

She described Pur Azm Pakistan as an important step towards building partnerships and systems that can expand economic opportunities for young people across the country.

The launch ceremony also marked the establishment of “Friends of GenU Pakistan”, a platform designed to bring together businesses committed to investing in youth development through skills training, innovation, entrepreneurship and work-based learning.

Chief Executive Officer of Generation Unlimited Kevin Frey said the initiative demonstrated how governments, businesses and young people could work together to build a scalable model for skills and employment while promoting inclusive economic growth.

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The event featured a Learn-to-Earn Marketplace showcasing youth-led enterprises, innovations and entrepreneurial projects from across Pakistan.

A high-level dialogue titled “Bridging Ambition and Opportunity” also brought together policymakers, business leaders and young people to discuss digital employment, opportunities in the green economy, skills reforms and entrepreneurship.

Officials said Pur Azm Pakistan and Friends of GenU Pakistan aim to help millions of young Pakistanis successfully transition from learning to earning and contribute to the country’s future growth and prosperity.