Empowering the Next Generation: Professor Mukhtar Meets with PMYEP Director to Discuss Youth Advancement Initiatives

Ms Madiha Aslam, Director of Partnerships for the Prime Minister's Youth Empowerment Programme (PMYEP), met with Professor Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar to discuss the potential of skilling and reskilling the Pakistani workforce.

The meeting, held to strengthen collaboration between higher education institutions and national youth development initiatives, focused on avenues for expanding youth-focused educational and skills development programmes across Pakistan. Ms Aslam, who plays a pivotal role in coordinating strategic partnerships for the PMYEP under the leadership of Mr Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, was commended for her vision and dedication to building capacity among the nation's youth.

Professor Mukhtar acknowledged the substantial impact of the PMYEP in creating inclusive, forward-looking pathways for youth empowerment, vocational training, and civic engagement. He remarked, "The Prime Minister's Youth Empowerment Programme has emerged as a cornerstone for fostering innovation, resilience, and opportunity among Pakistan's young people." He reflected on Ms Aslam's earlier contributions to national development through her instrumental role in the Foreign Faculty Hiring Programme, significantly strengthening Pakistan's higher education landscape by facilitating the return and engagement of globally trained academic talent. "Her long-standing commitment to public service, particularly in academic revitalisation, has left a lasting legacy on the nation's scholarly institutions," he noted.

Discussions during the meeting also explored the vast potential for partnerships among public and private sector universities with PMYEP. Particularly in the areas of skills-based education, entrepreneurship incubation, and digital innovation for youth, these partnerships could open up new avenues for collaboration and progress.