Ahmed Khan Malik

Balochistan Government has finalized the plan to address youth unemployment by providing overseas employment opportunities.

According to the officials of Planning Department Balochistan, a comprehensive initiative has been designed under the Chief Minister Youth Skills Development and Overseas Employment Program, which aims to train 30,000 young individuals in various trades, preparing them for international job markets. “The initiative focuses on equipping youth with skills in information technology, healthcare, hospitality, and electrical work”, Mumtaz Baloch, coordinator of the initiative at the Planning

Department, told WealthPK.

He pointed out that these sectors are in high demand in countries such as Germany, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain. The program is structured in phases, with the first batch of 2,500 youths selected to undergo training abroad. He said that a merit-based selection process ensures equal representation from all districts in Balochistan. This approach promotes fairness and transparency, aiming to provide opportunities to a diverse group of young individuals across the province, he said.

He said that selected candidates will receive specialized training tailored to the requirements of their respective destination countries. Upon successful completion, they will be deployed to various sectors, including construction, healthcare, and information technology, contributing to both their personal development and the economic growth of Balochistan through remittances.

Regarding the impact and future prospects, Mumtaz said that this program is expected to significantly reduce unemployment rates among Balochistan's youth, enhance their skill sets, and provide them with valuable international work experience. The influx of remittances is anticipated to bolster the provincial economy, leading to improved living standards and infrastructure development.

The official said that Balochistan has the highest unemployment rate among provinces in Pakistan, reaching 9.13%. This is primarily due to the lack of job opportunities in the province and the non-existent private sector.

Sabihuddin Siddiqui, Human Resource Researcher said that another reason for this high rate is disconnect between industry and universities. This impedes students from exploring their respective fields in the practical realm, leading to limited knowledge about practical implications. When these students graduate from university, they usually rely on government jobs that are very limited in commensuration with the graduates entering the market each year, he said.

He suggested that industries and academic institutions should collaborate to start taking proactive measures to address these shortages. “Several widely recognized and readily attainable remedies include a well-designed internship program that can provide industry-based experience and skills,” he said.

He believed that creating jobs, collecting taxes, imparting constitutional rights to citizens and promoting industries might help the provincial government to curtail the issue of unemployment as educated youngsters in the province feel distressed, because despite putting in years of hard work to obtain a university degree, they are still unable to secure a steady source of income. The threat of unemployment needs to be addressed so that these educated young men and women can flourish financially and also secure their peace of mind, he said.

Credit: INP-WealthPk