Islamabad – Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, met with Pernille Ironside, UNICEF’s Representative in Pakistan. The meeting focused on key initiatives aimed at empowering youth, improving education, and promoting volunteerism across Pakistan.
Ironside, who has served as UNICEF’s Representative in Pakistan since July 2025, leads the UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation 2023-2027 in partnership with the Government of Pakistan.During their meeting, Ironside expressed significant interest in the Digital Youth Hub (DYH), Pakistan’s first national digital platform, developed under PMYP with support from UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. The DYH serves as a ‘One-Stop Platform’ designed to connect Pakistan’s youth to opportunities in key areas under PMYP. Chairman Mashhood explained that the platform uses AI-driven recommendations to provide personalized access to resources, helping youth grow and develop professionally and personally. Ironside expressed her support for the initiative and noted that she would explore further avenues to support it.
Ironside also suggested that Pakistan’s education system requires substantial reforms, particularly in integrating modern technology from an early age. She emphasized the importance of a unified education system across the country, ensuring that all students, regardless of region, have access to the same quality of education.
In response, Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan assured Ironside that the Government of Pakistan is already taking steps toward these changes. He highlighted ongoing efforts in Punjab to reform the education system and mentioned that an Education Emergency was declared earlier this year by the Honorable Prime Minister Muhammad Shebaz Sharif. The Education Emergency focused on introducing a unified education system nationwide, incorporating modern technology at an early age to better prepare students for future challenges. The goal is to create a more developed Pakistan with an education system that empowers youth. Pakistan also hosted Girls Education in Muslim Communities earlier this year.
Ironside also expressed strong interest in the Prime Minister’s National Volunteer Corp (NVC), a flagship initiative of PMYP. The NVC aims to empower young Pakistanis (aged 15 and above) to bring about positive social change and contribute to their communities through volunteerism, while developing valuable life skills. Chairman Mashhood explained that the NVC focuses on networking, training, and the engagement of 2 million volunteers across Pakistan. Ironside praised the initiative, highlighting its potential to create lasting social impact.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
