Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed Pakistani embassies abroad to accelerate efforts to identify employment opportunities for the country’s workforce.
He issued the directives while chairing a review meeting on measures aimed at providing jobs for Pakistani youth.
The prime minister instructed that the entire system of the Protectorate of Emigrants be digitized.
He also directed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and the PM’s Youth Programme to ensure the provision of skills and language courses along with certifications.
PM Shehbaz said Pakistani workforce was highly capable and emphasised that the government was taking every possible step to ensure access to international-standard education and opportunities at the global level.
The premier instructed relevant institutions to strengthen engagement with different countries to align Pakistani certifications with international standards.
The prime minister further ordered that language education, along with certifications, be ensured for countries offering employment opportunities and called for a report on the performance of technical and vocational training institutions as well as the establishment of “Country of Destination Centres”.
During the meeting, participants were given a detailed briefing on employment opportunities for the workforce, particularly young people.
The meeting was informed that 800,000 young people had already registered on the Digital Youth Hub, a platform developed through partnership between PM’s Youth Programme and Unicef.
Meanwhile; Candidate for the position of United Nations Secretary-General, Ms María Fernanda Espinosa, called on PM Shehbaz Sharif. While welcoming Ms. Espinosa, the Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism, as well as the high significance it has always attached to the United Nations.
While reaffirming this abiding commitment to the UN, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that the incoming leadership of the United Nations will continue to work towards promoting the three pillars of the United Nations in a balanced manner through adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, faithful implementation of UN Security Council resolutions, respect for international law and treaties, and active international cooperation among Member States within the framework of the UN Charter to promote global peace and prosperity.
Ms Espinosa thanked the Prime Minister for receiving her and praised Pakistan for its leading role in recent regional peace efforts as well as its active participation in the United Nations over the past many decades.