Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Tuesday directed officials to accelerate the completion of under-construction youth centres and expand programmes aimed at education, skills development, entrepreneurship and employment under the proposed Provincial Youth Policy 2026.
Chairing a meeting to review the draft policy, Afridi also directed authorities to include elected public representatives in the proposed governing boards of youth centres to strengthen oversight and community participation.
He said the provincial youth policy would provide a framework for ensuring equal opportunities for young people in education, skills development, employment and business.
“Our youth will be empowered by providing equal opportunities in education, skills, employment and entrepreneurship,” the chief minister said.
Afridi said the government would further expand initiatives related to start-ups, career guidance, professional training, sports and talent development.
He said the provincial government was implementing the vision of PTI founder Imran Khan by investing in young people and human development.
The chief minister also directed officials to make arrangements for local sports coaches to receive training from international coaches in an effort to improve standards across different disciplines.
Officials briefed the meeting that two development schemes worth Rs700 million had been included in the Annual Development Programme for the 2026-27 fiscal year to implement the Provincial Youth Policy.
According to the briefing, Rs170 million has been allocated for youth skills development, digital learning, career development, training programmes and seminars through youth centres.
Another Rs115 million has been earmarked for youth capacity building, entrepreneurship programmes, start-up challenges, business plan competitions, career fairs and entrepreneurship exhibitions.
Officials said Rs120 million would be spent on provincial and district-level youth talent hunts, information technology hackathons, technology competitions, youth festivals, conventions and exchange programmes.
The meeting was also told that Rs60 million had been allocated for programmes promoting youth participation in environmental protection, climate action, public awareness campaigns and tree plantation activities.
The chief minister directed the relevant departments to ensure the timely implementation of all approved initiatives and maximise opportunities for young people across the province.
Reporter: Malik Rehman