YOUTH DEVELOPMENT1

Issues and Approaches in Pakistan’s Politics

Youth are a dynamic asset of any nation. Their
significance for the nation lies in their creativity,
courage, learning competence and high degree of self-
confidence which is also considered to be the major
source for nation building. Young people have much
to offer to society – from innovation to creativity to
new thinking and initiatives. But this needs an
enabling environment of holistic growth. An all-
inclusive development is critical for youth to realize
their potentials. Intellectual capabilities through
across the board education opportunities, rewarding
and decent employment, health and wellbeing, as well
as civic and political engagement and empowerment
are some of the inevitable in this regard.
Pakistani youth have set remarkable examples of
achievements in different fields of life. A number of
them are found playing significant roles in and outside
the country in different institutions and organizations.
At community levels too, particularly in urban areas,
a number of youth organizations, established by youth
themselves are engaged in multiple types of social and
welfare activities. Yet, in most cases these are
individual initiatives and performances.
The overall situation in the country doesn’t appear to
be very bright. Indicators, such as education and
employment levels as well as social and political
participation do not depict a good picture. While each
and every such sector needs to be specifically
addressed, there is absence of an integrated and well-
defined approach for youth at the policy level.
Consequently, the potential is getting wasted. It is not
surprising that a good number of them remain
directionless, engaged in worthless activities, not
knowing as to what exactly they can and should do for
themselves, community and the country. In the
process some of them get exploited by the people with
vested agendas or even by the adversaries and enemies
of the country.
The pressing challenge is to convert this bulge of
youth into dividend by making progress in largely
three domains of youth development: economic,
social and political participation.2 At the same time,
for any development program, it needs to be
recognized that youth development is a cross-cutting
theme and requires a holistic approach. Additionally,
youth is composed of diverse categories, levels and
sub-fractions and one cannot define it as uniform,
single faceted population.
The current census has shown 63 per cent of the
population of Pakistan is below the age of 29 years
and approximately 30 per cent between the age
brackets of 15-29 years which is defined as youth age
bracket by the government.3 In Pakistan 43.82 percent

1
This brief is part of a larger study being conducted at IPS to understand the national mood in light of the approach of various
Political Parties, in the elections 2018, on subjects of important issues related to the National Agenda. This brief consists of
two parts. The first part discusses the Political Parties’ vision about Youth Policy and Programs and their specific approaches
to Civic and Social Engagements as well as Sports and Culture. The second part looks into the program of parties about the
Youth Economic empowerment and an overall conclusion.
2
Different standards are used to measure youth development. The standards used by the Commonwealth Youth development
Index are civic participation, political participation, education, employment and health and well-being. The Commonwealth,
(2016). Global Youth Development Index and Report: Commonwealth Secretariat United Kingdom
3
UNDP Pakistan, (2015). Youth in Pakistan. Islamabad: UNDP Pakistan
[1]
of the 105 million Pakistanis who voted in the
elections 2018 are between the ages of 18 -35.4
Since the voter is fixed at 18 years, political parties
have recently started giving greater attention to youth.
It has positively pushed them to consider ideas as to
how they can attract youth and even the concerned
elders. No wonder therefore that all political parties
have plans and programs for youth in their respective
manifestos.5 All of them vehemently emphasize on
youth development. The following brief review of
2018 party manifestos attempts to analyze as to what
extent the political parties have covered the issues
related to the youth, what are their approaches; are
these approaches conflicting or unanimity reflects
more, and finally, is anything substantial missing?
I. Programs and Policies for Youth
The Vision: reflecting its vision of youth
development, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)
maintained, “We will foster positive values, creativity
and compassion in our youth”. Pakistan Muslim
League-Nawaz (PML-N) “envisions a youth that
would drive Pakistan into new economic and social
horizons”. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) vows that
its youth policy will provide the youth with “three Es:
Education, Employment and Engagement.” It further
says: “Our policy will ensure that we create a group of
educated, skilled young people that are invested in
making Pakistan a great nation”. Mutahidda Majlis-e-
‘Amal (MMA) outlines its vision in six encapsulating
points without explaining anything specific to its
vision regarding the youth. MQM stresses on equal
opportunities and enabling the youth to represent the
nation in the international forums in respectable
manner. ANP claims it “will develop a holistic youth
policy with special emphasis on providing
opportunities to youth for creative learning, art and
culture, recreation and sports, employment, skills and
vocational capacity development.”
Social Development and Civic Engagement
As per contemporary findings and narratives, the need
for direct representation and involvement in the civic
departments and political process of the youth is vital
for advancement. Failure in the performance of these
sectors of society have only led to deterioration of the
4
Iftikhar A Khan. Around 46m young voters set to play key role in polls. News Report, Islamabad: DAWN, May 25, 2018
5
‘Maximizing the Youth Dividend: Naujawan Pakistan’ (PPP-page 21-22); ‘Sustainable Economic growth: Youth and
Leadership- Jump-Starting Entrepreneurship’ (PML-N Chapter 1 page 24-25); Youth, Culture and Sports Mutahida Qaumi
Movement (MQM- page 24-25); ‘Youth Development and Employment’ Awami National Party (ANP-page 14); and ‘Youth’
Muttahida Majlis e Amal (MMA) (page 8-9)
6
PPP (PG 22)
7
PTI (PG 47)
8
MMA (PG 8)
9
PPP (PG 47)
[2]
state systems. Political parties have tried to address the
issues by bringing forward policies such as integration
of youth at the grassroots by initiating volunteer
programs and forming youth councils at community
levels. Coming to the specifics, there are a number of
important ideas found in the manifestoes related to
youth leadership, its participation and engagement in
community services and volunteerism.
• PPP promises the revival of student unions and
establishment of district and provincial level
youth councils. In this connection, it stresses on
regulatory mechanism to ensure these unions
are for and by the students and work for only
students’ welfare and activities. ANP and
MMA have also stated that they will support
revival of student unions in colleges and
universities. While other parties haven’t talked
about students’ unions, they have included
other ideas for their increased role. PML-N will
“Ensure youth representation in National and
provincial Assemblies and local bodies”. It also
promises “Formation of National and
Provincial Youth Commission with its presence
at the provincial, districts, tehsil and union
council (UC) levels.6 PTI talks about
investment “in the youth members of local
government bodies by training them and
empowering them to conduct village-level
activities for other young people”. PTI also
vows to “Launch a Youth in Politics and
Community Challenge Fund to engage the
youth in national & provincial development by
giving small grants to young people for solving
pressing problems of their communities” and to
revitalize “the Youth Parliament and create
programs in which young people can intern
with parliamentarians as staffers or
researchers”.7 MMA has pledged to ensure
holistic growth of youth and issue ‘Youth
leadership cards’ to those who achieve certain
number of points on the basis of performing a
constructive role in national service.8
• “Revitalization of National Volunteer
Movement (NVM)” “for nation building
activities” is another agenda item in PPP
manifesto.9 Whereas National library Program
 for the Youth and establishment of e-Libraries
in every tehsil have been promised by MQM10
and PML-N11 respectively. ANP has vowed to
develop a cadre of youth volunteers trained in
disaster mitigation and management in each
district. These youth volunteers will be
connected with the Local Government.12
Similarly, PTI has promised that it will “launch
a nationwide literacy program to engage 50,000
youth volunteers to teach literacy in exchange
for university credits”.13 With reference to
Balochistan, PTI has pledged to “reach out to
the Baloch leadership and the disgruntled
Baloch groups, especially the youth by ensuring
them political and economic empowerment”.14
Sports and Culture
Promoting sports and culture is crucial for developing
the youth mentally, physically and morally for their
future endeavors. Similarly, an affiliation with culture
instills character in the youth and keeps them
associated to their roots. The subject has been focused
by all the parties in their respective manifestos.
• PPP has promised to “strengthen the Pakistan
Sports Board and the Olympic Association of
Pakistan, promote local football associations,
organize annual football league matches, set up
a sports fund for players and sporting events in
large and small cities.15 PML-N pledges to
Establish 250 new stadiums and 50 Astro Turfs,
and to build sports academies at all levels and
introduce sports programs in all educational
institutions.16 PTI also promises “to Provide (1)
Playgrounds at tehsil level, (2) training centers
and gymnasiums at divisional level to be used
for training provincial and national teams and
(3) category A (National and International
standard) sports complexes at the provincial
level through a phased approach”. The PTI
agenda also includes holding of “inter-district,
inter-division, provincial and national games
annually”.17 Similarly, MQM promises to
“Encourage youth towards arts and sports
through the development of sports facilities,
parks and backing private initiatives such as
arts academies”.18 MMA vows to “Provide
sports opportunities at UC level”. MMA also
promises establishing ‘female only’ sports
complexes.19
• With reference to Arts and Cultural activities,
PTI stresses on “State patronage to sports, arts
and culture. Local and international exposure to
athletes, artists and artisans”. Revitalization of
Pakistan’s National Council of Arts and
creation of art and culture exchange
partnerships with international arts councils and
bodies to provide international exposure to
local artists, too is among its agenda. It also
talks about establishing vibrant community
centers at the district level and holding of
expos, exhibitions, literary festivals, art and
culture shows and events.20 MQM proposes
institutionalization of arts and sports in the
overall youth development program and
supports “private initiatives such as arts
academies”.21 ANP has given a long 19-point
agenda under the heading of Art and Culture
which has an obvious, though not directly
referred, relation to the youth engagement and
development. A significant point there is a
pledge that ANP “Will introduce culture
education into government education
system”.22
While all political parties speak of development of
young people of Pakistan, they seem to ignore the
holistic growth of youth bulge as the manifestos lack
specific goals and agendas and do not seem to care
about the importance of personality development and
moral values that is imperative for holistic growth.
Proposed agendas of political parties seem only for
urban youth while a large cohort of young people

10
MQM (PG 25)
11
PML-N (PG 23)
12
ANP (PG 14)
13
PTI (PG 45)
14
PTI (PG 19)
15
PPP (PG 52)
16
PNL-N (PG 25)
17
PTI (PG 52)
18
MQM (PG 25)
19
MMA (PG 9)
20
PTI (PG 52)
21
MQM (PG 25)
22
ANP (PG 17)
[3]
belongs to underprivileged rural areas23
manifestoes do not offer much to them.
II. Programs and Policies for Youth
Economic Empowerment
Poverty, lack of skills and education and a dearth of
economic opportunities are some of the reasons which
prevent the youth to meaningfully realize and
contribute their energies to their own, their societies’
and their country’s progress. Young people have the
ambitions, but they need some facilitation as well as
an enabling environment in which they can thrive.
Political parties, while taking note of the prevailing,
rather dismal, situation, have rightly given twin
emphasis on ‘skill development’ as well as creating
entrepreneurship and employment opportunities.
Skill Development
Ideas with regard to the skill development could be
classified in following three categories: internship
programs, vocational trainings and career counselling.
• Internship Programs: PPP has dealt with this
aspect of youth development in relatively
greater detail. Commenting that internships are
not regulated in Pakistan and there is no
mechanism of oversight, it promises a
“guaranteed paid internships for a period of up
to 12 months to all qualifying educated in the
age bracket of 17 to 21 years”. In addition, it
lays special emphasis on “female applicants
and applicants from deprived areas and poor
families”. The PPP manifesto also talks about
specially designed aptitude test as well as an
employment bureau under its internship
program.24 PTI, while talking about expanding
vocational training programs, talks about
providing relevant, high-quality skills to post-
secondary students under a partnership with
local industries and foreign governments to
employ vocational and technical graduates.
PTI’s promise to launching Youth in Politics
and Community Challenge Fund, revitalizing
the Youth Parliament, and creating programs in
which young people can intern with
parliamentarians, have been listed above.
Another idea presented in PTI manifesto is
23
Out of 50 million youth in the age group of 18-29 years, 45 percent is rural youth.
24
PPP (PG 21)
25
PTI (PG 47)
26
ANP (PG 14)
27
PML-N (PG 15)
28
PTI (PG 27).
29
ANP (PG 14)
30
MQM (PG 24)
the about establishing a liaison office in the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote foreign
placement of Pakistani youth 25. ANP pledges
that “Special attention will be paid to
addressing challenges faced by the educated
unemployed. Facilities like internship,
placement bureaus and advisory organizations
will be provided to help them find jobs.26 PML-
N pledged to create “200,000 apprenticeship
positions in collaboration with 5,000
companies”.
• Vocational Trainings: PML-N promised to
extend “Technical training opportunities to 3M
people” and stressed on modernizing training
systems. Under the heading of ‘Prosperity and
Protection of the Poor (Impart technical
training) it promises to train 2 million people in
skills required for entrepreneurship and
demanded by industry. It also talks about
integrating technical and vocational education
into formal education systems and establishing
Technology University in Rasul, District Gujrat
as well as upgrading TVET institutes to
international standards.27 PTI too talks about
increasing skill development & vocational
training programs and launching a national
program for graduates in the public & private
organizations for provision of practical
training. While promising to “double the size of
existing skill development & vocational
training programs”, it pledges to “establish at
least 10 technical universities in Pakistan to
provide skills to our youth”. It also looks
forward to implementing a technical and
vocational education reform program for
upskilling labor force in demand-driven
trades.28 PTI has also vowed for partnership
with local industries and foreign governments
to employ vocational and technical graduates.
ANP stresses district level initiatives and says
it will improve existing vocational training
centers and will also start new centers.29
Similarly, MQM has promised to increase
vocational training centers and youth
development centers in every district.30 MMA
in relation to its agenda on Industry and labor,
pledges to open skill development centers at the
[4]
 grassroots level under its ‘Skillful Pakistan startup incubators via private sector and help and
Program’.31 Promote hi-tech startups via legislation and
policies.41 PTI vows to encourage
• Career counselling: MMA,32 and MQM33 entrepreneurship, especially the SMEs, to boost
have specifically promised to introduce career economic value and job creation in the tourism
counselling while ANP has pledged advisory industry.42 Also, discussing the provision of 10
organizations to help find jobs.34 PML-N talks million jobs, it talks about creating a business and
about establishing a job placement and investor-friendly environment for investments in
vocational counseling services.35 human capital and professional development.43
EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ANP says it will enroll skilled students in the
A respectable employment or enterprise is natural Baacha Khan Self-Employment Schemes on
ambitions every young person aspires for. The merit basis and will assist them financially to
governments are expected to promote policies which initiate businesses.44 MMA pledges Interest free
ensure both employment and entrepreneurship. easy loan schemes for young people.45
Political Parties, cognizant of the fact have deliberated All political parties have something to offer some
on both aspects in their manifestos. economic opportunities for women in their
Entrepreneurship: On entrepreneurship, PPP manifestos. PPP manifesto talks about
talks about creating technology infrastructure establishing Women’s Business Councils to
with youth investment, and creating a support their businesses,46 and promises to
technology-based incubation system. It also talks provide trainings to the beneficiaries to setup
about Technology-based startups by youth and their own ventures.47 MQM promises to increase
promises finances for setting up an enterprise the number of women industrial home to provide
development fund.36 Whereas, providing credit to an opportunity to learn skills.48 PTI says, it will
community banks and incentivize them to Increase state-provided micro-finance available
provide funding to entrepreneurial ventures and to women.49 PML-N promises that it will provide
creating youth entrepreneurship ecosystem under credit facilities to promote entrepreneurship and
National Youth Council are significant points in eradicate the gender-based wage gap.50 PPP
PML-N manifesto.37 Enrollment in incubators is pledges to give interest free loans to the poorest
another idea mentioned in PML-N manifesto.38 and women of Sindh province51 and ensure
Similarly, it will scout for young entrepreneurs in adequate access of credit through First Women
disadvantaged communities through business Bank.52 MMA vowed encouraging small scale
plan competitions.39 Establishment of innovation Industries which to be run by female
centers and incubators along the CPEC is another entrepreneurs.53 ANP promises to provide
idea in PML-N manifesto.40 It vowed to expand
31
MMA (PG 6)
32
MMA (PG 8)
33
MQM (PG 25)
34
ANP (PG 14)
35
PML-N (PG 15
36
PPP (PG 22)
37
PNL-N (PG 25)
38
PNL-N (PG 15)
39
PNL-N (PG 15
40
PNL-N (PG 19)
41
PNL-N (PG 23)
42
PTI (PG 33)
43
PTI (PG 29)
44
ANP (PG 14)
45
MMA (PG 8)
46
PPP (PG 37)
47
PPP (PG 15)
48
MQM (PG 15)
49
PTI (PG 23)
50
PNL-N (PG 61)
51
PPP (PG 15)
52
PPP (PG 37)
53
MMA (PG 9)
[5]
 technical and financial support to women54 and
incentives for women run businesses through the
women’s chambers.55 PPP promises to connect
women with the market economy as
entrepreneurs under “Bhook Mitao” program.56
• Employment: PPP’s manifesto seems focusing
more on managing the job sector while PML-N
and PTI have vowed for creating new
opportunities. Thus, PPP manifesto talks about
building a mass database by ‘Employment
Bureau’.57 Whereas PML-N, talks about
promoting software industry, creating low and
medium skilled jobs through e-rozgar and
freelancing. It also pledges to generate
employment by unleashing the housing sector.
It indicates the strategy in this regard by saying
that it would be curbing illegal settlements and
paying workers to construct their own houses.58
In the IT sector PML-N vows to increase jobs
for skilled workers from 300,000 to 1 million.59
In addition, it pledges, creating 10 million jobs
through cross-cutting initiatives led by the
private sector. Creating a labor exchange
supported by public-private partnerships to
improve skills matching is an agenda point in
PTI manifesto.60 It also expresses priority about
former FATA by pledging to ensure job
creation in the tribal areas.61
ANP has come up with an agenda connecting
academia with industry. It looks forward tp
making research work more fruitful and would
also increase chances of new employment
opportunities. ANP62 and MMA63 vow to ensure
respectable employment for young people; merit-
based government jobs, and jobs or job
allowances for disable young people.
MQM vows for creation of jobs for IT
professionals through Information Technology
Enabled Services (ITES).64 It wants to accord
overseas Pakistanis respectable treatment and
provide them with economic opportunities in
Pakistan. To persuade talented and qualified
overseas Pakistanis with attractive economic
opportunities to return to Pakistan in order to
reverse the brain drain that is responsible for
recruitment of incompetent people on most
critical positions.65
PTI, ANP and MQM pledge for women
employment in their manifestos. PTI vows to
increase female participation in the public sector
by establishing quotas for women.66 PPP gives
preference for Government job placement for
female applicants, applicants from deprived areas
or poor families and those with no family
member in government job. In this regard it also
stresses that minimum eligibility conditions will
include qualification equal to matriculation.67
ANP aims to give equal access to women for
employment opportunities and ensure
implementation of the existing quota for
women’s employment.68 ANP says, it will ensure
payment of minimum wages in informal and
formal sectors and equal opportunities of
employment in the fields of their choice.69
Disabled or especially-abled people have also
been addressed by MMA and PTI. MMA vows
to give 100% surety of employment or
unemployment allowance for young disable
people.70 PTI used word “differently-abled
persons” and aims to facilitate/assist and
integrate them into mainstream society with
rights-based approach to provide the necessary
resources and infrastructure. It vows to ensure
2% job quota fulfilment for differently-abled
persons at all government establishments and
provide training, skills and finance through
public-private partnerships for differently-abled

54
ANP (PG 7)
55
ANP (PG 8)
56
PPP (PG 6)
57
PPP (PG 21)
58
PNL-(PG 25)
59
PNL-N (PG 23)
60
PTI (PG 27)
61
PTI (PG 19)
62
ANP (PG 14)
63
MMA (PG 8)
64
MQM (PG 22)
65
MQM (PG 23)
66
PTI (PG 23)
67
PPP (PG 21)
68
ANP (PG 7)
69
ANP (PG8)
70
MMA (PG 8)
[6]
 persons, and income support to differently-abled
persons with severe disabilities.71 PTI promises
to launch special assistance programs for
differently-abled persons.72
Conclusion
Manifestos are reflection of mindset and promises of
the Political Parties as to what they would offer in
response to support and power provided to them by the
people. In the above analysis it has been found that
almost in all parties’ manifestos youth issues cover
significant space which shows consideration of youth
as an important policy area. Interestingly, similar
aspects of youth development have been discussed in
all manifestos.
Political parties have expressed high promises for
youth development and included a lot of things based
on economic issues, but they are missing in setting
priorities. Having focus on youth unemployment
issues manifestos pledge to offer opportunities, mostly
to educated young people; as mentioned earlier in the
first part uneducated and rural young people haven’t
been specifically discussed in relation to parties’
programs discussed in this second part. All the
manifestos show inclination towards economic
empowerment, which is understandable, yet social
development and political empowerment is largely
missing. Similarly, ethical and moral values’
dimension and youth participation at community level
are generally missing. innovative ideas are also
missing; most of the manifestos are carrying only
generic statements revolving around skills training,
internships, jobs, loans etc. Nevertheless, the broad
consensus on issues and their solutions provide a
strong base for dialogue within parties and come up
with a minimum common agenda in any future
dispensation.

Prepared by:
Shafaq Sarfraz
Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), Islamabad.

For queries:
Syed Nadeem Farhat
Senior Research Officer
nadeem@ips.net.pk | www.ips.org.pk

71
PTI (50)
72
PTI (PG 47)
[7]