Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Thursday that the Government is prioritizing small and medium enterprises (SME) and youth job training to boost economic growth and employment creation.
By chairing a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Development Authority of Small and Medium Business (Smeda), the Prime Minister directed the recruitment of qualified personnel and emphasized the need for professional training in the SME sector.
He highlighted Smeda’s role in strengthening the rural economy and ordered an expansion of its interest -free loan program to include all rural populations, particularly women.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also instructed the fusion of all federal vocational training institutions in a single entity to rationalize efforts.
The meeting was informed that microenterprises have been integrated into the SME sector, and a comprehensive policy is being developed. The representation of the private sector at the Junta de Smeda is also increasing.
The Ministry of Commerce and Smeda are collaborating to identify export opportunities for SMEs, with a new performance management framework established to improve efficiency.
In addition, Smeda has carried out 28 training programs, benefiting 953 participants, while an export assistance program and a financial education initiative are in process.
In a separate meeting on the National Youth Employment Plan, Prime Minister Shehbaz approved a strategy to align vocational training with market and industry demands.
He announced that he would personally supervise the monthly progress of the Plan and urged the authorities to establish contacts with local industries to guarantee training alignments with the needs of the workforce.
“Pakistan’s talented young man is the most valuable asset in the country,” he said, added that the government is committed to empowering them through vocational training and skills development.
The authorities informed the Prime Minister that between 2.4 million and 6 million young people will receive vocational training in the next four years to improve their employability.
A digital youth center will also be launched this month, destined to connect young employment applicants with training and employment opportunities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz praised the efforts of all the ministries involved and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to create employment opportunities for the young people of Pakistan.
