PM Shehbaz Sharif says Pakistan still far from Welfare State
KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
- PM Shehbaz Sharif launched the National Youth Employment Policy with a 35% women’s labour-force quota and a 10% annual allocation for startups.
- The government announced Daanish University in Islamabad, with free, merit-based education for deserving students.
- The premier announced opportunities for youth to study agriculture, IT and AI in China, along with 250,000 Chromebooks for high-achieving students.
ISLAMABAD (Dawn News) — August 13, 2026: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said Pakistan remains “still far” from becoming a social welfare state, stressing the need to expand equal opportunities in education, employment and skills development.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, August 12, at an Islamabad ceremony marking International Youth Day 2026, where he formally launched the First National Youth Employment Policy and inaugurated the Power Sector Innovation Programme and Skills Ambassador Programme.
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Under the youth employment policy, the government will reserve 35% of the labour-force quota for women, while 10% of the annual quota will be allocated to startups, according to the prime minister.
PM highlights Education Gap
The prime minister focused on disparities in access to quality education, particularly between affluent and underprivileged sections of society.
“How unfortunate is it that, on the one hand, there is a Pakistan for the children of the elite, who not only receive the best education in Pakistan but also attend the best international institutions in the UK and North America?” he said.
He contrasted this with what he described as limited educational opportunities available to millions of children from less-privileged families.
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Shehbaz Sharif said Daanish schools were established to provide quality education to talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He said the programme was intended to support greater equality in access to education.
Daanish University Announced
The prime minister announced the establishment of Daanish University in Islamabad, a technology-focused institution that is expected to begin its academic session next year.
According to the announcement, admissions will be merit-based and education will be provided free to deserving and talented students.
The premier also said that 1,000 high-achieving students would be sent to China for agricultural education and training. Additional merit-based opportunities will be offered for young Pakistanis to study IT and artificial intelligence in China.
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250,000 Chromebooks Announced
Shehbaz Sharif further announced that 250,000 high-achieving students would receive Chromebooks during the current year.
He said 700,000 laptops had already been distributed among students on merit under earlier government programmes.
Addressing young people at the event, the prime minister said, “The future is not something you wait for, the future is something you build, now go and build it.”
He also pledged continued efforts to support youth employment and development.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks at an event in Islamabad to mark International Youth Day 2026 on August 12. —Screengrab via YouTube/PTV News.
“Today, I, in front of the youth, promise that until Allah has given me the responsibility to serve the nation, I will do everything in my power for your prosperity and employment,” he said.
Focus on Technology and Employment
The prime minister said Pakistan needed to equip its young population with modern knowledge and skills as artificial intelligence, information technology and other technologies increasingly shape the global economy.
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According to APP, the Power Sector Innovation Programme will also support innovative ideas in the energy sector. Power Minister Sardar Ahmad Khan Leghari said Rs30 million would be awarded annually to winning participants, while Rs1 billion had been allocated over three years for adopting selected ideas.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan also addressed the ceremony and highlighted government initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for young people.
The announcements come as the government seeks to address employment, education and skills development among Pakistan’s large youth population, with the prime minister emphasising that greater equality of opportunity is essential to the country’s development.
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