Urooj Niazi 
pm launches pakistan’s first skills impact bond
Pakistan Launches Skills Impact Bond to Support Youth Employment
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formally approved Pakistan’s first-ever Skills Impact Bond (SIB), an initiative to improve youth employability through “pay-for-success” funding. This model will leverage private capital and only draw down public or donor funds once predefined results, such as job placements or income levels, are achieved.
This decision was made during a review of the national employment roadmap that was initiated several years ago and is gradually picking up speed. The SIB will bring youth into the workplace with modern, market-ready skills, supporting them to seek jobs in-country while also providing opportunities abroad.
The Prime Minister expressed that it is critical to link education with practical employment needs, and he was glad to see the results of the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, NAVTTC, and the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis Affairs. The Prime Minister recognised the importance of teaching foreign languages to facilitate overseas employment. The Prime Minister ordered the roadmap to be reviewed on a regular basis and that skill development for foreign job markets should be prioritised.
In terms of the Digital Youth Hub, more than 500,000 people have signed up, and it has received more than 1.7 million app downloads. Today, the platform has 47,000+ job postings in Pakistan, 100,000 + overseas jobs, and 2,000+ scholarships; there are 500+ institutions, including private businesses, Pakistani embassies, and NGOs involved. The Skills Impact Bond is designed to make the youth of Pakistan self-sufficient, entrepreneurial, and competitive in the world.
