Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan Met with UNFPA and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to Strengthen Youth Policy Through Youth Development Index
Islamabad (GNP) :- A high-level meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office between the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), UNFPA, and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), chaired by Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan to Discuss Strengthening Youth Policy Framework Through Youth Development Index.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Luay Shabaneh, UNFPA Representative, along with Zahra and Muqaddar from United Nations Population Fund; Dr. Naeem uz Zafar, Chief Statistician, and Rabia Awan, Director General from Pakistan Bureau of Statistics; as well as Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, along with his team members.
The Youth Development Index (YDI) represents a globally recognized and evidence-based framework for assessing the well-being and progress of young people aged 15–29.
Chairman PMYP highlighted that the upcoming YDI 2026 exercise offers Pakistan a timely and strategic opportunity to strengthen youth-centered policymaking through reliable data aligned with both national priorities and international development commitments.
The Chairman emphasized that the YDI will play a critical role in advancing equity, targeting, and accountability by enabling disaggregated analysis at provincial and district levels. This will help identify disparities among youth populations, support more equitable allocation of resources, and ensure that development interventions effectively reach the most vulnerable and underserved groups. He further noted that the index will strengthen accountability mechanisms by allowing for better monitoring and evaluation of youth-focused policies and programmes.
He further underscored that Pakistan’s customized YDI framework reflects the country’s unique socio-economic and security context. It incorporates important indicators such as youth reproductive health as well as peace and security dimensions, including the impacts of terrorism, conflict, and climate-induced disasters. This comprehensive approach ensures that youth development is measured not only in terms of economic opportunity, but also in relation to safety, resilience, and social well-being.
The Chairman also highlighted the strong alignment of the YDI with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to education, health, gender equality, decent work, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice, and strong institutions. He reiterated that this alignment reinforces Pakistan’s commitment to global development frameworks and strengthens the country’s transition
toward evidence-based governance.
He further stated that with nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population under the age of 30, youth represent the country’s most valuable demographic asset. In this regard, the YDI is not merely a statistical measurement tool, but a strategic policy instrument aimed at long-term reforms, institutional strengthening, and holistic youth empowerment.
In conclusion, the Chairman emphasized the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme’s full commitment to advancing youth development through data-driven and evidence-based policymaking. He expressed confidence in continued collaboration with UNFPA and PBS to ensure the successful implementation of the Youth Development Index in Pakistan, enabling more inclusive, effective, and impactful youth policies nationwide.
