LAHORE: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari said it was needed to invest on human development as the country had the lowest Human Development Index in the region.
Addressing the award distribution ceremony under "Urban Youth Project" among 61 young entrepreneurs from disadvantaged urban areas, organized by Citi Foundation in partnership with the British Asian Trust and the LUMS National Incubation Center (NIC) here at LUMS, he said that youth were asset of the country as 60 percent of Pakistan's population comprised of the youth.
Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari said that Pakistan had huge potential in terms of human capital but attention was required to use this potential, adding that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was taking solid measures to polish the skills of youth of the country and provide them employment opportunities.
He said the government would soon inaugurate an initiative "Naya Pakistan Calling" under brain gain programme to provide employment to the overseas Pakistanis and polish the skills of youth which would help in filling more than 6,000 vacant posts in various departments. Through "Naya Pakistan Calling" initiative, data of educated youth of the country could be accumulated, he added.
Bukhari appreciated the efforts of Citi Foundation, British Asian Trust and the LUMS National Incubation Center for organizing training programmes for entrepreneurs and said that it was heartening to see the high results this group of entrepreneurs had delivered through right mentor-ship and opportunity. "I hope the British Asian Trust, Citi Foundation and NIC Lahore will continue investing in Pakistan's youth so that they can fulfill their potential," he added.
Later, talking to the media men, the Special Assistant said that the government was putting in place effective measures to ensure ease of doing business and create investment friendly environment in the country for investors, adding that a huge number of investors had shown keen interest to invest in Pakistan.
To a question, he said the government had evolved a policy to expand various departments and make them profitable so that new employment opportunities could be explored.
Head of Marketing and Public Affairs, Citi Bank Pakistan, Adeel Shahid, Vice-Chancellor LUMS Arshad Ahmad and others also spoke on the occasion.
APP