PM Shehbaz Unveils First National Youth Policy; Announces 1,000 AI Scholarships in China & 35% Women Quota

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has officially announced Pakistan’s first-ever National Youth Policy on the occasion of International Youth Day, introducing sweeping measures to empower the country’s younger generation through modern education, technology, and economic integration.

Addressing a high-profile ceremony in Islamabad, the Prime Minister stressed that financial constraints should never become a barrier to a child’s education. Reaffirming his commitment to human resource development, he declared, “Even if funds are short, it doesn’t matter; we will send another one thousand children to China this year” for specialized technical training.

Key Highlights & Announcements:
AI & IT Scholarships in China: Following last year’s initiative where students were sent to China for modern agriculture training, 1,000 students will now be sent entirely at government expense to pursue higher education in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Labor Force & Startup Quotas: The government has instituted a mandatory 35% quota for women in the national labor force and designated a 10% quota for youth in startup initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship rather than traditional job-seeking.

Educational Expansion: The Daanish Schools network is expanding rapidly across Punjab, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, and Balochistan to offer free, world-class education to underprivileged youth. Furthermore, Daanish University in Islamabad will begin classes next year, focusing on technical and modern sciences strictly on merit.

Digital Inclusion: Highlighting technological distribution, the Prime Minister noted that 700,000 laptops have already been distributed strictly on merit. This year, an additional 250,000 Chromebooks will be distributed to students to help them connect with the global digital economy.

Bridging the Inequality Gap
PM Shehbaz pointed out systemic educational disparities, noting that while children from wealthy backgrounds have access to elite institutions, talented students from impoverished families are often left behind due to a lack of resources. He emphasized that initiatives like Daanish Schools and the upcoming Daanish University are designed to bridge this divide and provide equal opportunities.

Looking toward the future, the Prime Minister remarked that while the older generation built Pakistan in 1947, the youth will shape the Pakistan of 2047. The government’s core strategy is to transition young people from job seekers into job creators, driving national economic development through modern skills and innovation.