ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed the ministry of religious affairs to ensure effective and comprehensive arrangements for Pakistani pilgrims and provide them with the best possible facilities during Hajj 2027.
He was talking to Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf who called on him at the Prime Minister House.
During the meeting, the federal minister apprised the prime minister of the progress made regarding arrangements and preparations for the upcoming Hajj. He also briefed him on the affairs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the steps being taken by the ministry.
The prime minister instructed the relevant authorities to complete all necessary measures well in time to facilitate Pakistani pilgrims and ensure a smooth and comfortable Hajj experience.
Shehbaz Sharif also directed authorities to prioritize equipping young people, particularly women, with vocational skills to secure their place in emerging employment markets, as his government pushes forward with its first National Youth Employment Policy.
Chairing a review meeting on the policy’s implementation, Sharif stressed the need for targeted job creation efforts nationwide, with special emphasis on the underserved provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The prime minister announced that institutional reforms are underway at the National Vocational and Technical Training Center (NAVTTC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) to better align Pakistan’s skilled labor force with domestic and international business and industrial demands.
Sharif ordered that progress reviews on the policy be conducted monthly. “Providing dignified employment to the country’s skilled and talented youth is among the government’s top priorities,” he said, adding that the policy’s launch reflects the administration’s sincere commitment.
He called for inter-ministerial cooperation and a comprehensive strategy to implement the policy’s initiatives and directed officials to launch an awareness campaign to inform young people about available benefits.
During the briefing, officials told the prime minister that NAVTTC is taking special steps to offer workers international certifications and language proficiency training required for overseas employment, with training tailored to market demands to facilitate foreign job placements.
The government has also enabled the Digital Youth Hub, a single online platform providing young Pakistanis with information on domestic and international job opportunities, according to meeting officials.
Attendees were told that all relevant ministries and institutions are coordinating to ensure effective policy implementation, and that Youth Development Cells are being established in educational institutions to offer guidance, career counseling, and information on skills-development programs.
Rana Mashhood, chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, briefed Sharif on actions taken under his directives.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Climate Change Minister Musadik Malik, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and other senior government officials.
