Peshawar: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Suhail Afridi has granted in-principle approval to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Youth Policy 2026, with final approval to be sought from the provincial cabinet.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by the chief minister, in which various proposals aimed at improving youth welfare, education, employment, and social development were reviewed. The chief minister also directed authorities to initiate legislation to protect youth rights and interests.
He instructed officials to ensure the establishment of “Jawan Markaz” (Youth Centres) in every district of the province, and directed that empowered local governing bodies be formed to manage and operate these centres effectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Suhail Afridi said that a significant portion of the province’s population consists of young people, making substantial investment in youth development essential. He announced that the next provincial budget would be a “Youth Budget” and emphasized a special focus on equipping young people with digital skills.
Officials informed the meeting that more than Rs7 billion would be spent on youth-focused initiatives over the next two years. The policy is built around four key pillars: education, employment, environment, and youth participation in social activities.
According to the briefing, the policy aims to ensure universal secondary education, particularly for girls, improve access to higher education, and provide scholarships and training opportunities. It also proposes mobile outreach programs and youth centers in rural and newly merged districts.
The policy includes support mechanisms for differently-abled youth, employment assistance for transgender youth, and quota provisions for minority youth.
Other major components include aligning technical education curricula with market needs, providing digital skills training, creating employment opportunities, introducing internship programs in the public and private sectors, and supporting youth entrepreneurship.
The policy also proposes the establishment of youth councils at provincial and district levels, along with volunteer groups for community service. Digital transformation, youth-friendly governance, and youth health and welfare have also been identified as key priorities under the policy.