PM Shehbaz hopes IMF loan is last

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expressed the hope that the Staff-Level Agreement (SLA) reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) might be the country's last programme.

"Through the IMF programme, the country has achieved stability, but it should be kept in mind that this is a loan we must eventually free ourselves from," he said while addressing the launch ceremony of the PM Digital Youth Hub.

Under the SLA, Pakistan and the Fund have agreed to introduce a new carbon levy, reduce electricity tariffs, increase water pricing, and open up the automobile sector to global trade.

The prime minister reaffirmed his commitment to equip the country's youth with advanced technological skills, emphasising the importance of their role in driving the nation's development and prosperity.

He assured that all necessary resources will be allocated to provide the best training opportunities, enabling young people to become productive contributors to society.

The prime minister emphasized that Pakistan's youth represent both a challenge and a great opportunity. "If we provide them with training in Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-led modern technologies, they can significantly contribute to the development and prosperity of Pakistan."

He said if given the right opportunities, the youth could play a vital role in making the country one of the leading economies of the world.

Expressing his commitment to providing top-quality training for the youth, he said the government would allocate all possible resources for their development by reducing other expenditures.

"Youth are Pakistan's greatest asset, and we can truly serve this nation by equipping them with cutting-edge technologies."

Council of Islamic Ideology

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) serves as a bulwark against extremist ideologies that incite violence, disrupt national peace, and undermine the Islamic values of social cohesion and harmony.

The prime minister, addressing a gathering of scholars, officials, and religious leaders at a ceremony to mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Council, emphasised the critical role of the institution in preserving Pakistan's ideological foundations while ensuring progress in the modern world. He reiterated the need for an approach rooted in Ijtihad (Islamic reasoning) to address contemporary challenges.

"Technological advancements have reshaped our world. Islam gives us the flexibility to adapt through Ijtihad, and the CII is at the forefront of ensuring that our nation progresses without straying from Islamic principles."

He called upon religious scholars to play a proactive role in guiding the youth away from extremist ideologies and false propaganda. "The government stands with the religious leadership in this noble cause. Extremism, hatred, and division contradict the very essence of Islam, which teaches harmony and brotherhood."

Huawei

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that Huawei's Information and Communication Technology training program for Pakistani youth would help boost the country's IT exports and create employment opportunities.

The prime minister, in a meeting with a five-member delegation led by Huawei's Chief Executive Officer Ethen Sun, said that skill training of the country's youth in the IT sector was among the government's priorities.

He said that the government desired a solid and long-term partnership with Huawei.

During the briefing on Huawei's ICT training to Pakistani youth, it was told that out of the 300,000 youth, 240,000 will receive basic training, while the remaining 60,000 will receive high-tech training.

It was told that training for all 300,000 youth will be completed by the year end. Besides, the third-party validation of the training programs will be conducted.