The federal cabinet has given in-principle approval to Pakistan’s proposed National Adolescent and Youth Policy, a framework focused on education, employment, participation, and environmental issues.

The policy was approved during a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. It was presented by the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination.

The proposed policy aims to bring young people into the government’s policy framework and improve their access to economic and social opportunities.

As part of the implementation plan, the government proposes establishing a Pakistan Youth Development Council and a Federal Adolescent and Youth Agency.

The cabinet was informed that 32,145 surveys were conducted across the country during the policy’s preparation, while input was obtained from more than 200,000 young people.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed that recommendations from cabinet members be incorporated into the policy.

The cabinet also ratified decisions previously taken by the Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises, the Economic Coordination Committee, and the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Cases.

The in-principle approval moves the youth policy toward the next stage of consideration before its proposed institutional framework and other recommendations are finalized.