Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday launched the Parwaz Card along with two digital platforms — Rah-e-Rozgar and the Skill Development Portal — in a move aimed at directly connecting skills training with employment opportunities for young people across Punjab.
The initiatives target youth who are unable to pursue formal higher education, offering vocational training, job placement support, and access to interest-free financing. Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore, the chief minister said the programmes were designed to prevent young people from being excluded from the economy and to provide structured pathways into the workforce.
Maryam Nawaz said the provincial government was focusing on making youth economically independent by pairing skills development with real employment options rather than training in isolation. She said the state had a responsibility to ensure that young people were equipped to earn with dignity.
Scale of training and job placement
Under the Chief Minister Skill Development Programme, around 200,000 students have already received vocational training, according to official figures. Of these, about 1,000 trainees have secured employment in the garments sector. Training has been provided in multiple trades, including tile fixing, welding, and electrical wiring.
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The chief minister noted that skilled Pakistani workers were in demand internationally, particularly in Middle Eastern countries, and urged youth to focus on acquiring practical skills aligned with market needs.
Parwaz Card and financial access
Maryam Nawaz announced that 50,000 skilled youth would be issued Parwaz Cards in the first phase. The card will provide access to interest-free loans of up to Rs300,000, with officials saying the digital mechanism would ensure transparency and targeted financial support.
The Rah-e-Rozgar and Skill Development portals are intended to centralise training opportunities, job listings, and skills data, allowing young people to navigate employment options more easily.
Concluding her address, the chief minister said investment in skills, education, and technology was central to Punjab’s long-term development and called on youth to contribute positively to the country’s economic future.
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