The federal government has launched an employment and skills development initiative targeting 25,000 young people from 12 districts of southern Balochistan, with the first phase expected to help between 6,000 and 7,000 youth secure employment.
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan announced the initiative during a meeting with the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), urging the business community to work with the government to create jobs, internships and training opportunities for young people from the province.
The programme will combine direct employment with vocational training designed around the needs of the labour market. Training courses are expected to run for three to six months and will include technical instruction, professional certification, soft skills, workplace ethics and civic responsibility.
According to programme details shared with stakeholders, training and employment opportunities will cover sectors including construction, industrial and electrical trades, agriculture, livestock and fisheries, hospitality, allied health and midwifery, and information technology.
The government plans to arrange training within Balochistan wherever suitable facilities are available, while institutions in Sindh may provide additional training and accommodation where necessary. Federal and provincial bodies including NAVTTC, technical and vocational training authorities, SMEDA, Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal, TDAP and the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund are expected to support the initiative.
Rana Mashhood has called on Karachi’s industrialists and business leaders to identify vacancies, communicate workforce requirements and help design training programmes that match actual industry demand. Businesses have also been encouraged to provide internships, sponsor training and recruit trained youth.
The initiative comes alongside broader efforts to expand digital, artificial intelligence, technical and entrepreneurial skills for young people in Balochistan. The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme has also been engaging business organisations and development institutions to strengthen pathways from training to employment and entrepreneurship.
Education opportunities for students from Balochistan are also being expanded. Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently announced an additional 5,000 scholarships for students from Balochistan and the tribal districts, enabling eligible students to pursue higher education at leading universities.
The Higher Education Commission has separately reported that its Phase-III scholarship programme aims to provide 5,000 undergraduate scholarships to talented students from Balochistan and the former FATA. So far, 3,000 scholarships have been awarded, while additional batches are being processed and another 1,000 scholarships are planned for the 2026-27 academic session.
The government is also expanding access to quality school education in Balochistan through Danish Schools. Projects have been planned or initiated in several districts, offering disadvantaged students access to residential education and improved learning facilities.
Together, the employment, vocational training, scholarship and school education measures are aimed at expanding opportunities for young people in a province where access to jobs and quality education remains a major challenge.
Related: Balochistan Injects 857M to Keep Universities Running Smoothly
The success of the 25,000-youth employment initiative, however, will depend on effective implementation, transparent selection, employer participation and the ability to connect training directly with real employment opportunities. The government and private sector will therefore play a critical role in turning the announced programme into sustainable career opportunities for Balochistan’s youth.
