The Central Development Working Party (CWDP) approved six projects worth Rs47 billion for the country’s youth.
The CDWP meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, “Our approach is grounded in the provision of mentorship, and upskilling opportunities to youth which we believe are critical for their employment prospects.”
During the meeting, the Prime Minister’s Youth Laptop Scheme (Phase-III) was approved for Rs 0.146162. The youth will be given laptop computers as part of the programme, a continuation of a previous project initiative by the Pakistan Muslim League PML-N government. Youth investment has been realised in many emerging economies as a long-term investment for the nation’s prosperous future based on the demographic dividend.
Moreover, to provide opportunities to students, the forum approved a project of Overseas Scholarships for MS/M. Phil is leading to PhD in selected fields (Phase-III) for Rs 22.214b.
Under the programme, 75 scholarships (40 PhD and 35 MS) will be awarded to students as part of the 75th National Independence Scholarships, with HEC serving as the project’s sponsor. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has granted the NOC to pursue Undergraduate Degree Programs in the leading Engineering Technologies, such as, to name a (Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, and Chemical, IT).
“The goal of the youth internship program is to increase the marketability, employability and work-readiness of educated youth; break down their barriers to entry in the labour market and accelerate their school-to-work transition”, said Secretary Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Syed Zafar Ali Shah.
The projects approved by the forum were the Prime Minister’s National Award and the Prime Minister’s Youth Development Center (YDC) at Rs 0.897554b.
Similarly, the forum approved the provision of higher education opportunities for Balochistan and FATA students for Rs 8.66335 billion. The project’s concept is based on providing higher education opportunities to students from Balochistan and former FATA by enrolling them in HEC-recognised Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and supporting them by paying their tuition and other living expenses.
The CDWP also approved the Prime Minister’s ‘Ba-Salahiyat Naujawan‘ Internship Program, which the Ministry of Planning Commission initiated at Rs 4.73 billion.