National Adolescent & Youth Policy approved

The federal cabinet on Thursday approved in principle the National Adolescent and Youth Policy, which Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed a significant step toward empowering the country's youth.

The cabinet meeting, presided over by the prime minister here, approved the policy on the recommendation of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination, describing it as a major development towards creating an integrated national framework for the country's young population, a Prime Minister's Office news release said.

The meeting was informed that the policy aims to mainstream youth at the government level, ensuring equitable and improved economic and social opportunities for young people. The framework rests on four core pillars: education, employment, inclusion and environment.

To implement the policy, the government is establishing the Pakistan Youth Development Council and the Federal Adolescent and Youth Agency.

The cabinet was told that the policy was formulated after conducting 32,145 surveys nationwide, incorporating the opinions of more than 200,000 young people across the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that suggestions put forward by cabinet members during the meeting be incorporated into the policy before its final adoption.

The cabinet also ratified decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises at its meeting held on July 9, 2026.