Prime Minister’s Advisor on Youth Affairs, Rana Mashhood Khan, announced that the government, in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, is launching initiatives to end long-standing deprivations in Balochistan. Over 10,000 students in the province will receive laptops under the Prime Minister’s youth scheme in the coming months.
Addressing the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Rana Mashhood emphasized that the global economy is shifting from oil to information technology.
He further added that Pakistan’s economic recovery has started and that Balochistan, rich in minerals, livestock and olives, has huge potential. He said today’s youth are becoming job creators rather than job seekers and praised the country’s national AI policy.
He announced that young Pakistanis have new employment opportunities in Europe, the United States, South Korea, Canada and the GCC countries. The government is training youth to meet international job standards.
An e-sports policy and federation are also near completion, and over 30,000 boys and girls from Balochistan participated in Talent Hunt cricket trials.
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Under the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan programme, youth are receiving loans to start businesses. However, only 11% of recipients last year were women, despite a 25% allocation for them.
Rana Mashhood said a facilitation center will be established at the Quetta Chamber to support entrepreneurship and skills development. Within six months, 30,000 Balochistan youth trained by BTEVTA and NAVTTC will be sent abroad for employment.
