GenU declared transformative step for youth development

Islamabad:In line with the government's approach to empowering the youth of Pakistan, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) convened the inaugural working group meeting of the Strategic Advisory Council for Generation Unlimited (GenU).

Chaired by Chairman of the PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, the meeting focused on mobilising efforts to uplift the youth, in collaboration with key stakeholders, including representatives from Unicef, UNDP, UNFPA, ILO, provincial youth ministries, the Higher Education Commission, Hashoo Foundation, and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation. Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s unwavering commitment to creating innovative opportunities for youth empowerment, stressing the importance of uniting the potential of young Pakistanis under a shared platform where every province has a role to play.

He highlighted that the introduction of Generation Unlimited (GenU) through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) marks a transformative step, bringing together public, private, and youth stakeholders. "Targeting young people between the ages of 10 to 29, the initiative aims to foster collaboration across provincial youth ministries, private sector leaders, and key UN agencies."

Rana Mashhood said the newly formed GenU Secretariat, housed within the PMYP, would coordinate these efforts, with technical support from UN agencies, to ensure the initiative’s success. He emphasised the alignment of GenU’s goals with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG-17, which highlights the importance of partnerships for sustainable development.

Khan reaffirmed the PMYP’s dedication to shaping a prosperous and inclusive future for Pakistan’s youth. During the discussions, Abdullah Fadil, Unicef's Representative in Pakistan, emphasised the global reach of Generation Unlimited, currently operational in 80 countries and benefiting over 91 million children worldwide.

He said the initiative focused on key areas such as green skills, digital literacy, and education for girls, and expressed optimism about the positive impact it can have in Pakistan. “With the Prime Minister’s keen interest and Rana Mashood’s leadership, I believe we can achieve significant progress in these areas,” Fadil remarked. While Unicef will offer technical support, Fadil stressed the need for broader collaboration across all United Nations agencies to deliver meaningful outcomes.