The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under its youth policy will allocate 2 per cent of its annual development budget for the youth of the province. The youth policy approved by the provincial government with Chief Minister Pervez Khattak in the chair is based on three main points of economic, social and political freedom to enable them in playing their due role in the development of the country.
The policy has been prepared with the support of 380 youth from all districts and 250 organisations, which were included representatives from all walks of life including men, women, IDPs, Afghan refugees, government officials, journalists, lawyers and members of civil society and every person has included his feedback in it. Under the youth policy, the provincial government will pay special concentration imparting skill and provision of vocational training to youth. The poor youth will be issued soft loans and they will also be imparted the skill of trade.
The provincial government would also established Youth Centres at both divisional and district level in the province and the youth will be provided internship and campus job. All provincial departments will have to constitute an inter-departmental working group on youth development, so one department should remain aware of the any initiative of youth development by other departments.
For establishment of coordination among various government departments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), donors and corporate bodies working in their respective sector on youth empowerment, a Youth Development Commission comprising of youth will also be constituted. The commission will be comprised of civil society organisations, youth affairs department and other stakeholders.
Youth Affairs Department will as secretariat for the commission, which will work for the implementation of the youth policy. The chairman of the commission will be nominated by the chief minister while members will be included Secretary Youth Affairs, Secretary Tourism, MNAs, MPAs, members of Provincial Assembly Standing Committee on Youth Affairs, district and tehsil nazims, representatives of youth, heads of youth organisations, representatives of civil society organisations, corporate bodies and other private sectors, journalists, representatives of Higher Education Department.
According to an estimate in the year 2014, the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was 27.5 million and the ratio of youth was 27.230% and with the passage of time the population of youth is growing.
The vision of the policy is the provision of equal and useful environment to the youth of the province to enable them to utilize their full potentials within a peaceful environment. The targets of the policy economic activation of youth to play their role in national development, generate such kind of capacity through quality education in youth so in future they could create space for them in the market of future, youth should remain socially independent, progressive, non-violent, peaceful and hopeful regarding their future, include them in national decision marking and become partner of the government for a comprehensive programme for the participation of youth in different sectors.