EMPOWERMENT

Youth, women, differently abled people, and least developed regions

SITUATION ANALYSIS

 With nearly sixty four percent population below the age of 29, Pakistan is one of the youngest countries in the world. This large youth bulge offers the country a golden opportunity to benefit from a potential “demographic dividend” while simultaneously raising the challenge of providing adequate services, jobs and engagement opportunities. While Pakistan has made considerable progress in improving the state of socio-economic development of young people over the years, the overall pace of progress has been slow compared to other developing countries. Indicators of human development including education levels, access to employment opportunities, political participation, health and well-being indicate that Pakistani youth face multiple challenges in accessing basic services, securing gainful employment opportunities and participating in social and political processes.

Despite having the 9th largest workforce in the world, Pakistan’s youth employment is among the lowest in the South Asian countries. The disconnect between the skills set of young people and the demands of industry are a major contributor to high youth unemployment. Furthermore, there are considerable disparities within the youth cohort based on gender, location (urban/rural, provincial),income status and physical ability. Poor, differently abled, female and rural youth face greater challenges in accessing socio-economic and political opportunities and services. Sensitivity to the needs of marginalized youth such as differently abled young people is critical for inclusive and sustainable development of the nation.

In addition to age, gender is a major dimension of social inequality and exclusion. Although successive governments have taken a number of progressive steps to promote basic human rights, protect girls and women against discrimination and violence and address drivers of gender-based discrimination, the pace of progress on gender equality remains slow compared to other developing nations.Women constitute 48.7 percent of the total population of the country. Yet they face discrepancies in accessing health, education, financial, and legal services and participating in social and political decision-making processes. The result is that Pakistan consistently ranks low on most global indices measuring the state of gender equality. According to Global Gender Gap Index report 2021, Pakistan has a huge gender disparity in terms of economic participation . The indicators for political participation are more promising , yet there is considerable room for development in this sphere as well. Gender-based disparities persist in health , education , income and employment opportunities , social
protection , personal security , control over assets and participation in decision-making processes .Additionally, women shoulder the burden of unpaid care and domestic work, further reflecting harmful and restrictive social norms. Violence against women and differently abled girls is also rampant,which spikes further during natural calamities and disasters.

STRATEGIC VISION AND OBJECTIVES

The Government of Pakistan recognizes the crucial role of young people and women in the country’s socio-economic development and prosperity. Provision of greater opportunities for the empowerment,development and engagement of youth, women, differently-abled people and other marginalized social groups lies at the core of the Government’s approach to achieve the Vision 2025 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Government’s approach to youth and women empowerment is informed and guided by four Es:

 While ensuring quality education, gainful employment, youth entrepreneurship and meaningful social and political engagement remain the key pillars of the Government’s strategy, inclusion is a cross-cutting priority, which has been integrated across all pillars. For key initiatives under each pillar,quotas have been fixed, where possible, for girls, women, trans-genders, differently-abled persons and youth from least-developed regions and provinces. Moreover, the Government has also launched several initiatives specifically designed for women, transgenders and differently-abled persons.

 
Furthermore, the Government is keen to harness the unlimited potential of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in empowering youth, women and other marginalized social groups. ICT is a critical enabler in creating opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship, accessing basic services, and participation in social and political processes. Equipping young people with digital skills and providing them access to finance and information is crucial to enable them to navigate and leverage the rapidly changing world.

The following short-term and medium-term goals will help turn the afore-mentioned vision into reality:

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES

TVET Reforms and Youth Skill Development

 The TVET regime will be revamped and modernized through revision and upgradation of trades, curriculum, teaching practices, certification and infrastructure. Advancements in technology will be harnessed to revise trades and curricula and improve the quality of TVET training. Furthermore, NAVTTC is building linkages and partnerships with foreign organizations and governments to meet their growing need for skilled labour.

75 Scholarships for Top-ranked 25 International Universities

 The government has announced 75 National Top Talent Scholarships Programme whereby Rs4.7 billion have been allocated, with the intent to provide Pakistani students with Master and Ph.D. degrees in the top 25 universities of the world. These scholarships will assist students from low-income families in receiving higher education, improve intellectual capabilities, and increase human capital.

Overseas Scholarship for MS/M. Phil leading to Ph.D.

 To overcome the shortage of highly- qualified faculty in Pakistani universities, the government has allocated PKR 20 billion for PhD scholarships with the aim of faculty development. Under this project, 854 MS/ M.Phil leading to PhD Scholarships will be awarded in the fields of engineering and technology

Ba-Ikhtiyar Naujawan Internship Program

To enhance the employability of young graduates, the National Youth Internship Program is designed to provide 60,000 internships to recent graduates from various fields. This paid on-the-job training will equip fresh graduates and students with the skills and experience demanded by the labor market. A special scheme of 10,000 internships for Balochistan has been approved as well.

Young Development Fellows (YDFs)

Under the MOPDSI, 40 young professionals will work with the government under various social and technological sectors for a period of 1 year. The YDFs will actively engage in the policy making process, giving valuable insights and gaining valuable experience to excel in Pakistan’s development sector.

Upgradation of 250 TVET Centers

The problem of lack of specialized training institutions is addressed by the planned establishment of 250 vocational institutes. TVET centers will focus on in-demand skills trainings having maximum potential for employment. These trainings will improve hi-tech abilities, foreign languages, and soft skills. A formal graduation ceremony will be held to acknowledge the graduates of these vocational institutes.

Pakistan Innovation Fund

The Prime Minister has also announced the establishment of Pakistan Innovation Fund for which Rs 10 billion have been allocated in PSDP 2022-23, with the aim to prepare a framework for effective innovation policy for the country including identification of factors that lead to positive and effective innovative regulatory processes.

National Innovation Award

The National Innovation Award is an opportunity for young entrepreneurs to present their innovative ideas related to 8 thematic areas with a specific focus on eco-Innovation. The teams and ideas selected through regional and national competitions will be engaged with the private sector and startup industry. The selected teams and ideas will also get scholarships and training. This competition will help in promoting startup culture and generating sustainable and green jobs.

Prime Minister’s Youth Business & Agricultural Loan Scheme

 PMYB&ALS will promote entrepreneurship among youth by providing business loans on simple terms and with less markup through 15 Commercial, Islamic and SME banks. All Pakistani residents, aged between 21 and 45 years with entrepreneurial potential will be eligible to apply for the loan. The age limit will be even lower for IT/ E-Commerce related businesses i.e., 18 years to encourage greater uptake of IT by the youth. The loans provided will be segregated into 3 tiers. The amount of loan would range between PKR 0.5 million and 7.5 million

Youth Leadership Awards

Youth Leadership Awards will be given to recognize leadership qualities and appreciate initiatives undertaken by those under 35 years of age. These awards will foster innovation and entrepreneurship within the country.

Young Peace Development Corps (YPDC)

 Under the Young Peace Development Corps, the government create networks within universities which help enhance critical thinking skills and state-citizen trust.

Green Youth Movement

 The Green Youth Movement (GYM) will enable the youth in the country to spearhead sustainable development and green growth in the country. The government will establish model green campuses-living labs for the promotion of best practices in renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, air quality maintenance, forestation/plantation, and eco-tourism

Talent Hunt Youth Sports League (THYSL)

 Through Talent Hunt Youth Sports League (THYSL), the government will engage the youth of Pakistan in healthy physical activities through sports in Collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC). Sports can play a critical role in transforming the youth into a self-confident, organized, and capable workforce that can bring positive social change and economic well-being in the country. The program will include 12 games namely Badminton, Boxing,Cricket, Football, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Squash, Table Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

250 Mini Sport Complexes

 To cater to and support different capabilities of the youth, 250 Mini Sport Complexes will also be established for which Rs 1,000 million have been allocated in PSDP 2022-23.

Registration of Youth Organizations

 This Programme is formally initiating the process of getting nominations of the youth led groups and organizations to facilitate productive engagement of young people for the promotion of national cohesion and inclusion.

GOVERNANCE INNOVATION LAB

The establishment of a governance Innovation Lab (GovInLab) will promote innovation by creating a collaborative community of multi-disciplinary experts to identify problems, brainstorm solutions and implement public sector reforms.It envisages enhancing “inclusive, responsive, and transparent” governance in Pakistan.

SERVICES.GOV.PK

The government’s services portal services.gov.pk will provide guidelines and tutorials about government’s services.

MOBILE APP

 Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Mobile App is a platform to discover the world of opportunities. Youth will be able to find job opportunities, career counselling, and all the information related to different initiatives of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in a single mobile application.

DIGITAL YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTERS

 The Youth Development Centers will act as one stop-shops for university students for necessary information, counselling, and resources through a single window system

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVES FOR EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN, DIFFERENTLY-ABLED PERSONS AND OTHER MARGINALIZED GROUPS

NATIONAL GENDER POLICY FRAMEWORK

 National Gender Policy Framework sets strategic priorities aimed at empowering women and  girls, in different domains considering the current and emerging challenges and
opportunities. Priority domains for National Transformative Gender Agenda include gender-transformative governance structures, closing the gender gap in primary and second
ary education in partnership with the private sector, strategies to equip women with employable & high-income skills, equitable access to qualification-appropriate employment opportunities, gender-responsive health services, empowering women and creating leadership pathways, and integrating women-protective measures across all programs.

WOMEN ON WHEELS

The Women on Wheels project will facilitate women’s mobility by providing motorbikes and  scooters to women at subsidized rates and training them to drive them.

GENDER UNIT

A gender unit will be established at the Ministry of Planning and Development to review development project proposals from a gender equity perspective
and integrate gender equity into the design of the development projects.

UP-GRADATION OF NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Government will establish a Centre for Hearing Impaired Children from Higher Secondary to Graduation Level, in Islamabad & a National Institute of Special Education in Certifi
cate awarding institution in Islamabad.MoFEPT’s Distance education initiatives creating inclusiveness for females through accelerated learning pathways, teacher training, skill based learning and foundational learning programmes.

ESTABLISHMENT OF ORTHOPEDIC WORKSHOP AT NA TIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTRE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN, ISLAMABAD

This project has been transferred to the non-development side.

ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESOURCE UNIT FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN AT THE NATIONAL SPECIAL EDUCATION CENTRE FOR MR CHILDREN, ISLAMABAD

This project has been transferred to the non-development side.

FORMULATION OF NATIONAL POLICY FRAMEWORK FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

 This Policy Framework will create a strong coordination mechanism within government departments for the development and monitoring of the policies that protect the rights of persons with disabilities. This should be available at both the federal and provincial levels.

3. LEAST-DEVELOPED REGIONS

01 SPECIAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC UPLIFT OF 20 POOREST DISTRICTS

The Federal Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives launched a first of its kind 5-year development plan to up-lift 20 poorest districts of Pakistan out of poverty at a cost of 40 Billion PKR. Identified on the basis of scores in the Multi-Dimensional Index, the selected 20 districts include 11 districts from Balochistan, 5 from Sindh, 3 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 1 from the Punjab.

02 5000 UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BALOCHISTAN AND FORMER-FATA

A project regarding the provision of higher education opportunities for students of Balochistan and erstwhile FATA has been approved. The program will provide equal education opportunities to 5000 talented students of these disadvantaged areas to bring them at par with developed and developing areas of the country creating a core of talented and qualified manpower.

03 ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF GWADAR

 The government will establish a university in Gwadar to provide better education for students from all over Gwadar. This 25 Billion PKR project will establish a state of the art university spanning over 500 acres.

04 EXPANSION OF DANISH SCHOOLS NETWORK ACROSS LEAST-DEVELOPED REGIONS OF PAKISTAN

The Federal Government aims to support the Government of Balochistan in addressing the crisis of out-of-school children and expanding schooling opportunities through establishment of boarding schools across the province. These schools will address issues of distance for teachers as well as students and ensure quality and affordable education.

05 ENROLLMENT OF 0.5 MILLION ADDITIONAL HOUSEHOLDS FROM BALOCHISTAN IN BISP

 Recognizing the high incidence of multi-dimensional poverty in Balochistan, the Federal Government is in the process of covering the entire poor population of Balochistan under the BISP program. In this regard, as a first step, an additional 0.5 million households from Balochistan are being made beneficiaries of BISP.

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