- Premier Shehbaz Sharif says youth bulge to be transformed through jobs, skills, and vocational training
- Says pulled back country from brink of default in 2022–23 with collective efforts
- Laments floods inflicted ‘unforeseen’ economic damage, but joint efforts underway to ensure timely rehabilitation
- Counts agriculture modernization, IT, and exports as key growth drivers, envisions Pakistan as prosperous, peaceful, and militarily strong by 2035
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s resolve to convert Pakistan’s “youth bulge” into a powerful economic engine, stressing that the country’s future prosperity lay in productive job creation, modern skills development, and vocational training opportunities for its younger population.
In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, the prime minister said that nearly two-thirds of Pakistan’s population comprised youth, which could either become a demographic challenge or serve as a national strength if properly trained and engaged. “Our vision is to turn this massive youth population into a productive workforce that contributes to national growth and global competitiveness,” he said. He emphasized that investment in technical education, information technology, agriculture modernization, and vocational training was key to this transformation.
Highlighting the government’s broader development vision, the prime minister said Pakistan needed to expand its agricultural base alongside the services and industrial sectors. Modern farming techniques, technology-driven practices, and value-added exports, he noted, would help increase productivity and provide employment opportunities in rural areas.
Turning to the economic outlook, Shehbaz recalled that in 2022–23 Pakistan had been “on the verge of default.” He credited the collective efforts of his economic team and his personal commitment for pulling the country back from crisis. “Through extraordinary teamwork — Team Pakistan’s untiring commitment and determination to achieve results — we managed to stabilize the economy. I can say without fear of contradiction that Pakistan today is a stable economy,” he remarked.
However, the prime minister acknowledged that recent floods had inflicted “unforeseen and devastating” damage to the economy. He said the disaster had wiped out crops, displaced millions, and created extraordinary fiscal pressures. “We are meeting this challenge with joint efforts,” he added, commending the coordinated rescue and relief operations led by the federal and provincial governments, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the armed forces.
Premier Shehbaz stressed that resilience and unity were the defining strengths of the Pakistani nation. He noted that despite recurring natural disasters and economic setbacks, Pakistan had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to recover and move forward with determination.
Looking ahead, the prime minister shared his long-term vision for the country. “Ten years from now, I want to see Pakistan as a nation standing tall—a country with remarkable achievements in economic prosperity, peace, and happiness,” he said.
“I envision a Pakistan with its head held high, achieving great milestones in progress and prosperity, and standing as a mighty military power that commands respect in the comity of nations,” he concluded.
