Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s commitment to economic digitisation, public sector rightsizing, and the merit-based appointment of technical experts across ministries and departments. Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, the prime minister reviewed the progress of technical recruitments and discussed new measures to attract foreign investment through institutional reforms and streamlined governance.
During the session, the Public-Private Partnership Authority shared a detailed update on its current initiatives and future plans. The meeting was informed that appointments for 15 technical positions had been completed, while recruitment processes for 47 additional roles were in progress. A total of 30 candidates have been shortlisted for key leadership roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and managing directors across seven major ministries and departments. Initial interviews have already been conducted for critical posts in the petroleum division and the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission.
PM Shehbaz emphasized that institutional strengthening remains a core objective of the federal government. He reiterated that all appointments must follow strict merit and transparency standards. He underscored the importance of rightsizing government departments to improve efficiency and align with the agenda of digital economic growth. Dedicated focal teams within ministries have been tasked with formulating sectoral investment strategies and roadmaps to guide national economic planning.
Sectoral frameworks for investment in key areas such as food security, maritime affairs, tourism, minerals, energy, industry, and housing are nearing completion. Furthermore, the meeting was informed that pitch-books for 18 economic sectors have been prepared to attract foreign investment from countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Azerbaijan, Qatar, and Kuwait.
The prime minister also approved Pakistan’s first Skill Impact Bond programme, aimed at mobilizing private sector investment into technical and vocational training institutes. Under this initiative, funding will be allocated to educational institutions based on the number of skilled graduates they produce. The objective is to equip Pakistani youth with market-relevant skills that align with the demands of industry and facilitate long-term employment opportunities. Training will include contemporary skills and, on PM Shehbaz’s instructions, modules for learning the languages of potential host countries to improve overseas employment prospects.
The PM Office reported that 500,000 individuals have registered on the digital youth hub platform, while the application has been downloaded by 1.7 million users. Over 500 companies have registered to post approximately 47,000 local jobs and 100,000 opportunities abroad. More than 2,000 scholarships are also listed on the platform.
In diplomatic engagements, PM Shehbaz received a farewell visit from European Union Ambassador Riina Kionka, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the GSP Plus trade agreement. Separately, he met Dr Fouzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, and assured continued legal and diplomatic support for the case. PM Shehbaz also welcomed Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan, former PTI provincial president, into the PML-N.
