Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Prime Minister Digital Youth Hub, calling it a significant step toward equipping the country’s youth with modern technology and employment opportunities.

Speaking at the event, the prime minister expressed his joy, stating, "Today is a day of unique happiness." He emphasized that Pakistan’s future depends on investing in its youth, as they are the country's greatest asset.

PM Shehbaz recalled that during his tenure as Punjab’s chief minister from 2011 to 2018, 400,000 laptops were distributed purely on merit to empower students with digital access. He stressed that in today’s rapidly evolving world, technological advancement is crucial for a nation's progress. 

"If we train our youth properly, they will become a great asset," the prime minister said. He added that by investing in millions of young Pakistanis, the country could achieve significant development in just a few years.

Employment and training initiatives

PM Shehbaz Sharif said he had tasked Rana Mashhood with creating employment opportunities for the youth. He assured that the government would cut down unnecessary expenses to allocate more funds for youth training programs.

"We need to provide such training that directly leads to employment," he stated, reaffirming his commitment to providing all the resources needed for the youth's economic empowerment.

Economic challenges & IMF program

Addressing economic challenges, the prime minister said he was hopeful that the current IMF program would be Pakistan’s last. He acknowledged that while IMF programs help stabilize economies, real progress comes through hard work and self-reliance, not loans.

"We have to change this country's destiny through hard work, not by relying on loans," he said, adding that banks earned a windfall due to the depreciation of the rupee in 2021. "In one year, we made a plan on how we can improve the economy." 

PM Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted recent financial recoveries, stating that Rs34 billion had been added to the national treasury in just three weeks. He revealed that cases worth trillions of rupees related to taxes are pending in courts, and recent efforts have successfully resolved some of them.

"For years, tax-related cases remained in the Sindh and Lahore High Courts, but we resolved them, bringing Rs11 billion into the treasury," he said.

Reaffirming his dedication to economic independence, the prime minister vowed to fight for a self-reliant Pakistan and assured the nation that he would not disappoint them. "I will try my best and will not let the nation down," he concluded.