Youth Budget Sets Stage for Skills, Jobs, Innovation: Rana Mashhood

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jul, 2026) Chairman of the Prime Minister's Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, on Wednesday said the Federal government had presented the most balanced budget in Pakistan's history, with record allocations for youth development, education, sports, innovation and skills training.

Addressing a press conference at the Press Information Department (PID), he outlined the government's strategy to empower young Pakistanis through merit-based opportunities, technical education, digital innovation and overseas employment, while also addressing key national economic and security challenges.

Rana Mashhood said the government had provided a Rs125 billion subsidy to the people despite commitments under the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, reflecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's resolve to protect the public from economic hardship.

He said Pakistan would firmly safeguard its national interests and rights, alleging that India was using terrorism and unilateral actions regarding the Indus Waters Treaty as political tools. However, he added, Pakistan would counter such moves at every available international forum.

Highlighting the federal budget, he said the government had protected all major sectors despite serious fiscal challenges and succeeded in presenting what he described as the country's most balanced budget. He credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership for ensuring substantial allocations for youth-focused initiatives.

The PMYP chairman said empowering young people with dignity, skills and self-reliance remained the government's foremost priority.

He recalled that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had launched Pakistan's first structured youth initiative during his first tenure as chief minister of Punjab in 1997, laying the foundation for the country's expanding youth development programmes.

He said more than 300,000 young people from across Pakistan participated in PMYP sports initiatives, with nine male and female athletes earning places in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) through merit-based talent identification.

Announcing a landmark initiative for the country's national sport, Rana Mashhood said Pakistan would launch its first-ever nationwide hockey talent hunt this year. Talented boys and girls would be identified from streets, neighbourhoods, towns and cities across the country, provided professional training and offered opportunities to compete in Pakistan's first hockey league.

He also announced the establishment of a nationwide Volunteer Corps to encourage youth participation in community service and nation-building.

Highlighting the government's digital agenda, Rana Mashhood said the federal cabinet had approved Pakistan's first National E-Sports Policy, paving the way for the establishment of the country's first E-Sports Federation within the next two months.

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He said e-sports encompassed not only competitive gaming but also game development, describing it as a multi-billion-dollar global industry in which Pakistan was determined to secure its rightful share.

He said significant investment would be made this year to establish E-Sports Arenas and game development centres across the country. Referring to Pakistani gaming champion Arsalan Ash's eighth world title, he said the government aimed to produce many more international champions by identifying talented youth from streets and neighbourhoods nationwide and providing them with world-class training.

He also announced the launch of the National Innovation Awards to encourage young innovators, while noting that National Incubation Centres established under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif were already providing opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs and technology startups.

The PMYP chairman said the government would launch the Green Youth Movement, under which Green Youth Movement (GYM) Clubs would be established at universities across the country to promote environmental awareness and climate action.

On education, he said Rs24.48 billion had been allocated this year for new Danish Schools to provide state-of-the-art educational facilities at the community level, describing the Danish school model as internationally recognised.

Rana Mashhood said the PMYP was integrating education, technical and vocational training, science and technology, arts and culture, innovation and sports under one umbrella to provide merit-based opportunities for talented youth.

He urged young Pakistanis to fully utilise these initiatives to enhance their own potential while contributing to the country's progress.

He said the government had allocated the largest-ever budget for the Prime Minister's Youth Programme. Last year, around 800,000 to 900,000 trained Pakistani youth secured overseas employment, while this year's target had been raised to between 1.7 million and 1.8 million.

He added that the government had allocated several billion rupees for the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) to expand technical, soft and ethical skills training while promoting patriotism and responsible citizenship among young people.

Concluding the press conference, Rana Mashhood said the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and in coordination with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, would continue investing in Pakistan's youth, describing them as the country's greatest asset and the driving force behind its future prosperity and development.