
Educational curriculum: Federal govt decides to include AI subject
LAHORE: Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said the federal government has decided to include Artificial Intelligence as a subject in the educational curriculum for enhancing technological capabilities of youth.
While addressing a ceremony here, Rana said equipping the youth with modern technology is the need of the hour and the current government is taking necessary steps in this regard.
He said the Prime Minister's Youth Skill Development Program (PMYSDP) was initiated to strengthen the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The purpose of the program is to equip young people with market-driven conventional and high-tech skills required for career progression with an aim to bring capacity of youth at par with international standards, he said. According to him, PMYSDP is the vehicle of change to empower youth and harness their potential for human development and transformation of the future of Pakistan. The program comprises several components of interventions to stimulate the transformation of the entire TVET system in the country.
As per official sources, the Prime Minister's Youth Program has successfully implemented initiatives to empower the country's youth, achieving all set targets. The focus of the program was to empowering young individuals through its comprehensive 4E framework, which encompassed four pivotal pillars, Education, Employment, Engagement and Environment.
The sources claimed that a holistic approach was designed to foster a well-rounded and skilled youth population, equipped to drive positive change and progress. These initiatives included the Youth Laptop Scheme, which connects the youth with technology and provides support for education to the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) talented students.
The sources claimed the Youth Skills Development Program provided training in various businesses and technologies, while the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme offered free loans to businessmen. The National Innovation Award promoted startups, and supports the development in the IT Startups and Venture Capital Project IT sector.
According to the sources, the Youth Internship Program provided job opportunities to young people in Academia and the labor market, while the National Youth Council advised policy making. The National Volunteer Corps voluntarily encouraged positive change, and digital Youth Hubs connected young people with digital skills and opportunities. In addition, Talent Hunt Sports League and Sports Academies played a vital role in the development of sports and the Green Youth Movement trains young people with environmental protection.
It may be added that under the Prime Minister's Youth Program, Rs 29.404 billion were provided for PM Youth Laptop Scheme, for Pakistan Education Endowment Fund Rs 14 billion has been allocated besides Prime Minister Youth Skills Development Program Rs 15 billion, PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme Rs 105 billion, Prime Minister Volunteer Corps Rs 1.8 billion, Prime Minister Digital Youth Hub Rs 447 million, PMs Talent Hunt Youth Sports League Rs 240 million, PM Sports Academies Rs 998 million and Prime Minister Green Youth Movement Rs 1.94 billion allocated.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business Recorder
Over 6,000 students benefit from PM's Laptop Scheme at SAU: VC
HYDERABAD: As part of the Prime Minister's Youth Laptop Scheme, Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam distributed laptops among 11 high-performing students during a ceremony held on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor Dr. Altaf Ali Siyal said that over 6,000 students have benefitted from the scheme at the university so far. He emphasized that merit-based opportunities for laptops and scholarships will continue to be extended to deserving students in the future. 'In today's technology-driven world, progress without computers and information technology is unimaginable. IT is playing a crucial role not only in economic development but also in national defense,' said Dr. Siyal. He encouraged students to harness the power of technology to create career opportunities from home and called upon the government to extend the laptop scheme to the college level while promoting IT education at all tiers. Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Aijaz Ali Khooharo noted that laptops previously delayed due to administrative hurdles have now been distributed strictly on academic merit. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025


Express Tribune
28-05-2025
- Express Tribune
PBF urges budget relief for agriculture
Listen to article The Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) has urged the government to take concrete measures in the upcoming federal budget to reduce the cost of agricultural cultivation, calling for immediate tax relief on fertilisers to ease the financial burden on farmers. A PBF delegation, led by Chief Organiser Chaudhry Ahmad Jawad, held a detailed meeting with Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain to discuss the upcoming federal budget and advocate for targeted relief for the agricultural sector. The delegation emphasised that the federal government still holds the authority to reduce the cost of production for farmers. "Sustainable GDP growth is not possible without government support for agriculture," they stated. The delegation urged the government to eliminate the 18% GST on locally produced cotton and to reduce customs duties on imported machinery used in the cotton ginning sector. "The government must take concrete steps to reduce the cost of cultivation. Fertiliser prices should also be brought down by offering tax relief," they added. In response, Hussain expressed agreement with the forum's concerns and stated, "The ministry is actively working on eliminating the 18% GST on local cotton, including lint and cottonseed." He further noted that efforts are underway to resolve pending cotton cess liabilities from the textile sector to ensure the Central Cotton Committee does not face financial constraints. "We are also considering limiting tax-free imports of yarn and fabric under the Export Facilitation Scheme to support local cotton," said the minister. "This year, we are aiming to produce 10 million cotton bales locally, and we are making every effort to ensure that farmers receive relief in the upcoming budget." PBF also recommended that new research and seed varieties developed by the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) be implemented at the district level through local agriculture departments. "At present, we are unaware of the latest research being conducted in Islamabad. The ministry should work with provincial governments to bridge this gap." PBF welcomed the government's decision to allow the import of cotton seeds and proposed that legislation be introduced to ensure local banks provide loans to the SME sector.


Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Business Recorder
Educational curriculum: Federal govt decides to include AI subject
LAHORE: Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has said the federal government has decided to include Artificial Intelligence as a subject in the educational curriculum for enhancing technological capabilities of youth. While addressing a ceremony here, Rana said equipping the youth with modern technology is the need of the hour and the current government is taking necessary steps in this regard. He said the Prime Minister's Youth Skill Development Program (PMYSDP) was initiated to strengthen the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The purpose of the program is to equip young people with market-driven conventional and high-tech skills required for career progression with an aim to bring capacity of youth at par with international standards, he said. According to him, PMYSDP is the vehicle of change to empower youth and harness their potential for human development and transformation of the future of Pakistan. The program comprises several components of interventions to stimulate the transformation of the entire TVET system in the country. As per official sources, the Prime Minister's Youth Program has successfully implemented initiatives to empower the country's youth, achieving all set targets. The focus of the program was to empowering young individuals through its comprehensive 4E framework, which encompassed four pivotal pillars, Education, Employment, Engagement and Environment. The sources claimed that a holistic approach was designed to foster a well-rounded and skilled youth population, equipped to drive positive change and progress. These initiatives included the Youth Laptop Scheme, which connects the youth with technology and provides support for education to the Pakistan Education Endowment Fund (PEEF) talented students. The sources claimed the Youth Skills Development Program provided training in various businesses and technologies, while the Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme offered free loans to businessmen. The National Innovation Award promoted startups, and supports the development in the IT Startups and Venture Capital Project IT sector. According to the sources, the Youth Internship Program provided job opportunities to young people in Academia and the labor market, while the National Youth Council advised policy making. The National Volunteer Corps voluntarily encouraged positive change, and digital Youth Hubs connected young people with digital skills and opportunities. In addition, Talent Hunt Sports League and Sports Academies played a vital role in the development of sports and the Green Youth Movement trains young people with environmental protection. It may be added that under the Prime Minister's Youth Program, Rs 29.404 billion were provided for PM Youth Laptop Scheme, for Pakistan Education Endowment Fund Rs 14 billion has been allocated besides Prime Minister Youth Skills Development Program Rs 15 billion, PM Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme Rs 105 billion, Prime Minister Volunteer Corps Rs 1.8 billion, Prime Minister Digital Youth Hub Rs 447 million, PMs Talent Hunt Youth Sports League Rs 240 million, PM Sports Academies Rs 998 million and Prime Minister Green Youth Movement Rs 1.94 billion allocated. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025