- CM briefed that 75,000 youth found jobs across Pakistan, 15,000 abroad
- Maryam Nawaz says skill empowerment key to inclusive growth, economic revival
LAHORE: Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Punjab has achieved a major milestone by training more than 180,000 youth in just a few months under the flagship Skilled Youth Programme, marking what officials described as an unprecedented success in the province’s technical and vocational education drive.
Chairing a high-level review meeting, the chief minister was informed that over 75,000 trained youth have secured employment across Pakistan, while 15,000 others have found jobs in international organizations. Officials noted that among those employed were 27,500 graduates of the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA), 45,000 from the Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), and 1,428 from the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF).
وزیراعلی پنجاب مریم نوازشریف کی زیر صدارت اجلاس میں “ہنرمند نوجوان” پروگرام کی کامیاب کارکردگی کا جائزہ لیا گیا، اب تک 1 لاکھ 80 ہزار سے زائد نوجوانوں نے فنی تربیت مکمل کی جن میں سے 75 ہزار سے زائد ملکی اور 15 ہزار بین الاقوامی سطح پر برسر روزگار ہیں، فنی تعلیم میں 21 فیصد اضافہ… pic.twitter.com/2DChibmaBk
— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) October 22, 2025
Presenting a detailed breakdown, officials added that 350 women trained through the Garment City Project and 450 transgender individuals trained under the ‘Pehchan’ Skill Development Programme have successfully gained employment. The chief minister noted that the province had recorded a 21 percent increase in technical training compared to the previous five years.
Maryam Nawaz directed the relevant departments to conduct a fresh industrial survey to align training programmes with evolving market needs and gave in-principle approval for introducing the “Maryam Nawaz Free Travel Card” to facilitate skilled youth seeking overseas job opportunities.
Officials informed the meeting that to modernise the construction sector, the Punjab government had established 24 state-of-the-art construction labs across the province — including Bahawalpur, Multan, Bhakkar, and Mianwali—to train 2,450 youth in modern construction techniques. So far, 830 trainees have completed their courses, 1,178 are enrolled, and 975 will join the next batch.
The Hospitality Training Programme has also gained momentum, with 96 youth having completed training, 96 others under training, and 100 more set to begin the next phase in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Faisalabad.
In the Garment City Project, officials reported that 510 youth have completed training, of which 350 have secured employment, while training continues for 980 others and another 960 candidates are scheduled to start soon.
Under the International Outreach Programme, officials said, 112,000 youth have received specialised training aimed at preparing them for overseas employment. The province has also upgraded 2,158 training labs, now catering to over 28,000 students across Punjab.
The chief minister approved new rules and regulations for the Department of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and endorsed the development of modern curricula and training modules. Under the 2025–26 plan, Punjab aims to train 201,485 youth, including 15,531 locally and 4,230 internationally during the current fiscal year.
Officials further briefed her that the ‘Pehchan’ Skill Development Programme for Transgenders had so far trained 11,000 individuals, of whom 470 have already found employment, while 1,300 are currently enrolled. Participants are also being provided with machinery and essential tools to encourage entrepreneurship and small-scale businesses.
The meeting was also informed that the provincial government has allocated Rs1 billion for the ‘Main Digital’ Programme, which targets 3,000 rural women for advanced IT training. The first phase covers Bahawalpur, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Lodhran, and Faisalabad, with plans to train over 2,100 women by April 2026.
CM Maryam Nawaz commended the performance of the skills department and emphasised that the government’s top priority was economic empowerment through employable skills, especially for youth, women, and marginalised communities.
She reiterated her administration’s resolve to make Punjab a hub of skilled manpower that meets both domestic industry needs and international demand. “Skill development is not just training—it is empowerment,” she said, adding that Punjab’s ongoing initiatives were reshaping the province’s workforce and opening new avenues for social mobility and inclusive growth.
Officials concluded that the scale of progress under the Skilled Youth Programme reflected Punjab’s transformation into a skills-driven economy, underpinned by targeted policy reforms and public–private collaboration.
