PMYP chief announces 35% women quota in new youth jobs policy at SIA Summit

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Apr, 2026) Chairman Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan on Tuesday announced the Federal cabinet’s approval of Pakistan’s first National Youth Employment Policy targeting at least 35% women’s representation in the labour force at the SIA Summit 2.0, urging female youth to lead the country’s economic revival amid global re-engagement.

Speaking as chief guest at the Social Innovation academy’s summit titled “Building a Women Led Social Enterprise Ecosystem in Pakistan” in Islamabad, Khan praised organisers including BPF, UN Women and OGDCL for fostering women led entrepreneurship.

He reflected on Pakistan’s “pivotal moment of progress,” stressing that empowering youth particularly women is central to the economic strategy.

Citing Indonesia as an example where boosting women’s participation to 50% raised GDP by 4%, Khan called for similar gains in Pakistan.

PMYP chief highlighted his past work on women’s empowerment under Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, noting the Prime Minister’s Youth business and Agriculture Loan Scheme’s 25% women’s quota, which is yielding results in Punjab and Sindh but needs expansion elsewhere.

The government, he added, plans facilitation centres to help women collaborate, innovate and build sustainable enterprises. Khan reaffirmed the commitment to an inclusive ecosystem for youth and women to drive national development.