Federal cabinet endorses a new national framework focused on education, employment, inclusion and environmental opportunities for Pakistan’s youth.
The federal cabinet on Thursday gave in-principle approval to the National Adolescent and Youth Policy, marking a major step toward creating a coordinated national framework for empowering Pakistan’s young population.
The decision was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The policy, recommended by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, aims to bring youth development into the mainstream of government planning while creating a more equitable economic and social environment for young people.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the proposed national framework is built around four key pillars: education, employment, inclusion and environment. The policy is intended to provide a unified direction for youth-related initiatives and improve opportunities for young Pakistanis across different sectors.
The government is also moving toward establishing the Pakistan Youth Development Council and the Federal Adolescent and Youth Agency as part of the policy’s implementation framework.
The cabinet was informed that the policy formulation process involved 32,145 surveys conducted across the country, with the views of more than 200,000 young people incorporated into the process. Prime Minister Shehbaz directed that recommendations put forward by cabinet members should also be considered and incorporated into the policy.
The move comes as Pakistan seeks to harness the potential of its large young population through better access to education, employment opportunities and social participation. A coordinated youth policy could also help align government initiatives and improve institutional support for adolescents and young adults.
During the meeting, the federal cabinet also ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises on July 9, 2026, the Economic Coordination Committee on Aug. 14, 2026, and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases during meetings held on June 18, July 30, Aug. 5 and Aug. 18.
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