Syed Zeeshan Ali Shah Naqvi, focal person for the Prime Minister Youth Program and former deputy mayor of Islamabad, addressed a special event held on the birthday of Quaid‑e‑Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the birthday of former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and the occasion of Christmas, saying youth empowerment is the government’s foremost priority.
He said the Prime Minister Youth Program represents the largest ever investment in Pakistan’s young people, with a substantial PKR 175 billion budget allocated this year to scale opportunities across the country. Under the program, interest‑free loans ranging from PKR 500,000 to PKR 7.5 million are being provided to help young entrepreneurs and professionals build sustainable incomes.
Mr Naqvi highlighted that the Prime Minister Youth Program’s laptop distribution, skill development courses and AI initiatives are designed to make young Pakistanis self‑reliant. He stressed that laptops are being distributed purely on merit through the Higher Education Commission and that the scheme contains no political branding or personal names.
Pointing to real outcomes, he noted that a single laptop has enabled thousands of young people to support their families, while skill programs have helped hundreds of thousands secure employment abroad. These achievements, he said, demonstrate how focused investment in technology and training can reshape livelihoods and open exportable skills markets for Pakistani youth.
Mr Naqvi described the Prime Minister Youth Program as a strong foundation for Pakistan’s future and invoked the Quaid’s message of unity, faith and discipline. He also extended Christmas greetings to the Christian community, calling for peace and goodwill among all citizens and condemning politics of hatred and ill conduct that harm social cohesion.
Affirming support for Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s development agenda, Mr Naqvi said billions of rupees in development projects are under way in Islamabad and other regions and pledged to continue service in line with that vision. He emphasized that bringing all communities together remains essential to guarantee a stronger, more prosperous Pakistan.
