Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy on 12 August 2026, at an International Youth Day ceremony in Islamabad. The policy sets a 35 percent quota for women in the labour force and a 10 percent annual quota for youth-owned startups. It sits under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), the same body that runs the PM Laptop Scheme and the PM Youth Loan Scheme. Most of its provisions are still rolling out at ministry level, so treat this as a policy announcement rather than a scheme you can apply to directly yet.
What the Policy Covers
The policy focuses on jobs, skills, and business ownership for young Pakistanis. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, one thousand students will be sent to China for merit-based training in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, fully funded by the government. Radio Pakistan reported that a new Daanish University is being built in Islamabad, with technology-focused classes expected to start in 2027. The PM also confirmed that seven hundred thousand laptops have been distributed so far under the existing PM Laptop Scheme.
Two New Programmes Launched Alongside It
The same ceremony introduced the National Power Sector Innovation Programme, aimed at young innovators working on energy solutions. It also launched the Skills Ambassador Programme, intended to connect trained youth with employers. Neither programme has a public application portal yet as of this writing.
What This Means for Students and Job Seekers
Youth Development Cells are being set up inside educational institutions. According to Radio Pakistan’s 18 August 2026 report, these cells will offer career counseling and share information on employment and skills-development opportunities as they open. The government holds a monthly review meeting to track how the policy is rolling out, so new details are expected in the coming months. If you’re a student, the fastest way to benefit right now is asking your institution whether a Youth Development Cell has been assigned yet.
In practice, this policy is easy to confuse with the separate National Adolescent and Youth Policy, which only received in-principle cabinet approval on 20 August 2026 and covers a broader four-part framework. Checking the announcement date against pmyp.gov.pk avoids mixing the two up.
What to Do Right Now
There’s no application form for this policy itself. Watch pmyp.gov.pk and PMYP’s official channels for the rollout of quota implementation, the China training program’s selection process, and the Skills Ambassador Programme portal. This page will update as those details go live.
FAQs
When was the National Youth Employment Policy launched?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif launched it on 12 August 2026, at an event marking International Youth Day in Islamabad. It’s described as Pakistan’s first policy of this kind.
What is the women’s quota under this policy?
The policy sets a 35 percent quota for women in the labour force. A separate 10 percent quota applies to young people starting new companies each year.
How do I apply for the China IT and AI training program?
No public application portal was open as of the policy launch. Check pmyp.gov.pk directly, since the selection process is expected to be announced there.
Is this the same as the National Youth Policy?
No. The National Adolescent and Youth Policy is a separate, broader framework that only got in-principle cabinet approval on 20 August 2026. The Employment Policy covers jobs and quotas specifically and was already launched.
What is the Skills Ambassador Programme?
It’s a new initiative launched alongside the Employment Policy to connect trained young people with employers. Full details, including how to register, hadn’t been published at launch.
My university doesn’t have a Youth Development Cell yet. What should I do?
These cells are still being rolled out across institutions, so a delay doesn’t mean you’re ineligible. Ask your institution’s administration directly, and check pmyp.gov.pk for updated rollout lists.
How many laptops has the PM Youth Programme distributed so far?
The Prime Minister stated that seven hundred thousand laptops have been distributed to date under the existing Laptop Scheme. This figure was shared at the same 12 August 2026 event.