Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Highlights Women’s Empowerment at SIA Summit 2.0
Islamabad (GNP) :- Chairman of Prime Minister’s Youth Program Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said Pakistan’s first-ever national youth employment policy will soon be launched.
Addressing an event in Islamabad, as Chief Guest, emphasizing the critical role of youth and women in shaping Pakistan’s economic future. The summit, titled “Building a Women-Led Social Enterprise Ecosystem in Pakistan,” brought together key stakeholders committed to advancing social innovation and inclusive growth.
Chairman appreciated the efforts of the Social Innovation Academy and its partners, including BPF, UN Women, OGDCL, and others for organizing a meaningful platform to promote women-led initiatives. He commended their collective contributions toward empowering communities and fostering entrepreneurship.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s trajectory, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan noted that the country is at a pivotal moment of progress and global re-engagement. He stressed that this is the time for Pakistan’s youth—especially women—to rise and take leadership roles in economic development.
Highlighting past initiatives, he shared his experience of working on women empowerment projects during the tenure of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as Chief Minister of Punjab. He expressed pride in the foundational role these initiatives played in advancing gender inclusion in the province.
He underscored that empowering youth and women is a key part of Pakistan’s economic strategy. He added that global examples show that when women are given more opportunities, economies grow stronger—for instance, in Indonesia, increasing women’s participation to 50% led to a 4% rise in GDP—and that Pakistan should move in the same direction. He announced that Pakistan’s first-ever National Youth Employment Policy has been approved by the federal cabinet and will soon be launched. Under this policy, a minimum of 35% representation of women in the labor force is targeted across sectors.
Additionally, he highlighted that the Prime Minister’s Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme has reserved a 25% quota for women nationwide. Positive outcomes are already being observed in provinces like Punjab and Sindh, although he acknowledged the need for further progress in other regions.
To further support women entrepreneurs, the government is establishing facilitation centers aimed at providing women with opportunities to collaborate, innovate, and build sustainable enterprises.
Concluding his remarks, Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an inclusive ecosystem where youth and women can thrive and contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s development.
