Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed Pakistani embassies abroad to intensify efforts to identify employment opportunities for the country's workforce, particularly the youth.

He was chairing a review meeting in Islamabad today regarding productive employment for the youth.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan possesses a talented workforce and the government is taking every possible step to equip young people with internationally competitive education, skills and global employment opportunities. He also directed the complete digitization of the Protectorate of Emigration system.

Shehbaz Sharif further instructed the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), and the Prime Minister's Youth Programme to ensure skills development, language training, and internationally recognized certifications for the workforce, especially young people.

He directed Pakistani embassies to expedite the collection and dissemination of information on overseas job opportunities and provide relevant data. He further instructed all concerned institutions to strengthen cooperation with foreign countries to align Pakistani certifications with international standards.

The Prime Minister emphasized that language training and certification should be provided for countries offering employment opportunities to skilled Pakistani workers. He also called for a report on the performance of technical and vocational training institutes operating under NAVTTC and on the establishment of Country of Destination Centres.

The meeting was informed that over 800,000 young people have registered on the Digital Youth Hub.

It was told that employment opportunities are available abroad in diverse sectors including construction, agriculture, tourism, healthcare, transport, biotechnology, manufacturing, shipbuilding, information technology, engineering, nursing, pharmaceuticals and food processing.

The meeting was further informed that training programmes are underway to prepare Pakistanis for jobs in these sectors and the Pakistani embassies will upload information on available employment opportunities and required qualifications to the Digital Youth Hub Portal.