Education and Skills Development:
• PTI focuses heavily on enhancing the quality and accessibility of education, aiming to
increase education spending to 4% of GDP, revolutionize teaching methodologies, and
expand access to schooling, especially for girls. It emphasizes establishing technical
institutes and improving literacy rates, alongside establishing mental health services and
encouraging partnerships with foreign institutions for better education standards.
• PMLN aims to increase access to higher education and expand initiatives like the
Schools for the Brick Kiln Workers and the school milk program. It plans to increase
funding for higher education and emphasizes the continuation of the National Youth
Laptop Scheme, alongside establishing a sports university and investing in sports
infrastructure.
• PPP commits to allocating 5% of GDP to education, with a significant increase in the
budget for research and innovation. It emphasizes ensuring schooling for all children,
improving access to quality education, and establishing a university in every district. PPP
also plans to introduce a Youth Card for stipends and student loan opportunities.
Technology and Digital Skills:
• PTI plans to establish advanced IT training centers and coding bootcamps, with a goal to
raise IT exports significantly. It also proposes establishing a digital economy
development bank and investing in healthcare technology.
• PMLN focuses on establishing world-class IT cities, providing digital skills training, and
certifying freelancers. It also aims to attract large online payment platform companies to
Pakistan and incorporate e-governance across government departments.
• PPP emphasizes providing the required IT infrastructure for youth-led startups and aims
for high-speed connectivity across the country. It also plans to establish youth centers
with access to digital libraries and free Wi-Fi.
Employment and Entrepreneurship:
• PTI seeks to collaborate with industry leaders to provide internship opportunities,
establish a digital economy development bank, and identify startups and new economy
initiatives.
• PMLN plans to establish the ‘Pakistani Tech Fund’ to provide funding to startups and
expand Prime Minister’s Youth Program to integrate sports education in schools.
• PPP aims to link up with internships and trainee jobs in the public and private sectors and
create opportunities for youth-led startups in all sectors.
Overall Analysis
• PTI’s manifesto is strongly focused on educational reform and technological
advancement, aiming to make significant improvements in the quality and accessibility of
education and to foster a digital economy.
• PMLN emphasizes a balanced approach with a focus on education, technology, and
sports, aiming to improve educational access and quality while also investing in sports
and digital infrastructure.
• PPP places a heavy emphasis on education, with a significant budget allocation and plans
for widespread access and innovation, alongside support for youth employment and
entrepreneurship through infrastructure and connectivity initiatives.
Each party’s manifesto reflects a distinct vision for youth empowerment in Pakistan, with
varying focuses on education, technology, sports, and entrepreneurship. The implementation of
these plans would depend on their ability to address practical challenges, including budgetary
constraints, institutional reforms, and infrastructure development.
– Suffian Ahmed
PNP Election Cell