Ayesha Saba

The government and relevant stakeholders need to focus on implementing policies and strategies that promote job creation, skill development, and investment in infrastructure and social services in order to effectively manage the pressure caused by an increasing population in the labour market. This holistic approach will help harness the growing population’s potential and ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth. Dr Durr-e-Nayab, Joint Director at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), said this while talking to WealthPK.

“Pakistan has a large labour force that stands among the top 10 largest labour forces in the world. An extensive labour force poses a huge challenge in terms of creating an adequate number of employment opportunities,” she said. “The majority of our youth lives in an environment of multi-dimensional and intersectional vulnerability to socio-economic disparities. In addition, the skills gap makes it difficult for individuals to find jobs and for employers to find appropriately trained workers for their industries,” Durr-e-Nayab added.

“Skill development enhances both the capacity to work and opportunities at work for the people, offering more scope for creativity and satisfaction. The future prosperity of a country depends ultimately on the number of persons in employment and how productive they are at work,” she maintained. According to the PIDE joint director, the economy is not well-equipped to absorb the potential of a fast-growing population. To reap dividend from the youth bulge, it is imperative for the country to provide the young generation with a decent education and impart some skills to make them competitive in the global market.

Talking to WealthPK on the condition of anonymity, a planning ministry official said, “Youth unemployment is the most pressing issue linked to the enormous population growth in Pakistan. According to the State Bank, 1.8 million people enter the labour market annually in Pakistan. The government has given priority to youth empowerment and productivity in National Youth Development Framework (NYDF) based on 3Es – education, employment, and engagement.

“NYDF identifies strategic, practical and timely investments in six major thematic areas, i.e. mainstreaming marginalized youth, employment & economic empowerment, civic engagement, social protection, health & wellbeing and youth-focused institutional reforms.”The official said Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET) was also included in the long-term development plan of the National Skill Strategy (NSS) and globally agreed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). According to the annual plan 2022-23, an amount of Rs5,412.8 million was allocated during 2021-22 for the ongoing skill development projects/schemes.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk