KP budget to prioritise youth development, says CM Afridi

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday approved in principle the draft Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Policy, 2026, and directed that legislation be prepared for the protection and promotion of young people’s interests, according to an official statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

The draft policy will now be placed before the provincial cabinet for approval. The decision was taken during a meeting of the sports and youth affairs department held at the Chief Minister’s House.

According to the official statement, the chief minister said that with young people making up a large share of the province’s population, protecting their interests and investing in their development was both a strategic requirement and a moral responsibility. He also said the upcoming provincial budget would centre on youth-related priorities.

Speaking at the meeting, Afridi said the provincial government was investing in human capital in line with the vision of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf founder Imran Khan, adding that it would be a youth-focused budget.

The chief minister instructed the relevant authorities to ensure that Jawan Markaz facilities were established in every district of the province. He also ordered the formation of empowered local governing bodies for their effective management and long-term sustainability.

Afridi further stressed the need to give priority to digital skills training so that young people could benefit from emerging economic opportunities.

Policy framework and funding

Officials told the meeting that more than Rs7 billion would be spent on youth development initiatives over the next two years under the proposed policy framework. They said the draft had been structured around four main pillars: education, employment, environment, and youth participation in social and civic affairs.

According to the briefing, the policy’s key goals include expanding secondary education coverage, especially for girls, and widening access to higher education. Officials said the framework also included scholarships and training opportunities for females, along with plans for Jawan Markaz centres and mobile outreach services in rural areas and the newly merged districts.

The meeting was informed that the proposed policy incorporated steps aimed at inclusion and equal access to opportunities. These include assistive facilities for young persons with disabilities, livelihood support for transgender youth, and dedicated quotas for minority youth in different programmes.

The official statement said the policy also aimed to align technical education curricula with market needs while broadening access to digital skills and other competencies linked to future employment requirements.

Employment, governance and civic engagement

Officials said the proposed framework included measures to generate employment opportunities in multiple sectors, launch youth internship programmes in both public and private institutions, and extend entrepreneurship support to young people seeking to start their own ventures.

The policy also proposes setting up youth councils at the provincial and district levels, along with volunteer groups intended to encourage community service and civic participation among young people.

According to officials, digital transformation, youth-friendly governance, and youth health and social well-being are among the important components of the wider policy framework.

Participants were also briefed on proposals to activate the KP Youth Development Commission and create a dedicated Youth Development Fund to support the implementation of youth-focused initiatives across the province.