ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged to allocate ample resources to the nation’s youth to help transform the country into a thriving, developed nation.

Speaking at an event marking the International Day of Youth, organised by the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme on Monday, PM Shehbaz recalled his time as the chief minister of Punjab.

He said this year, the federal government would provide one million smartphones, tablets, and laptops to top-performing students across the country, including those from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and remote areas of Balochistan.

Additionally, each province had its separate programmes to support students, he said.

At the beginning of the event, the PM officially launched several key initiatives, including the Commonwealth Youth Alliance Secretariat in Islamabad, the Digital Learning Portal, the PM Green Youth Movement, and the AI for Youth Programme, which offers Intel-certified skills to young people.

Other initiatives included Smart Youth, Smart Pakistan, and the distribution of one million tablets and mobile phones to high-achieving intermediate students. He also announced the registration of the National Volunteer Corps.

Uplift plan on Aug 14

PM Shehbaz announced that he would unveil a comprehensive development plan for the country on August 14. He said that nothing was impossible in this world and emphasised the need to progress by learning from past mistakes.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024