ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said here that the government was committed to providing underprivileged class access to education. Addressing International Summit on Higher Education and Workforce Development he said that access to higher education was one of keys to growth and development.

Summit was organised under auspices Higher Education System Strengthening Activity (HESSA) Project. Summit is timely initiative within context of Pakistan’s development priorities as US support for Pakistan’s Higher Education System has long history which ranges from primary and basic education to establishing Centres of Excellence to strengthening overall higher education systems, said Minister.

Ahsan said that youth in Pakistan are not only concerned about their future education, but also about their livelihoods, their mental health and well-being. Planning Ministry already developed Mental Health Psychosocial Support Handbook. Pakistan’s estimated youth unemployment is between 8.5 to 10 percent with 80 percent youth workforce having low level of education and poor skills base primarily due to gaps in quality, access and relevance of skills vis-à-vis what is needed in market. US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome, Senator of Utah State, Dr. Keith Grover, Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmad among attendees.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 01 2022

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