Pakistan is facing two challenges: a youth population without productive skills, and the increasing digitization of the economy and society. These trends are expected to continue and speed up in the coming years. The digitization of the economy offers great potential for promoting youth employment in the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of digital skills for youth to access decent work opportunities.
With 65% of the population under 30 and 29% between the ages of 15 and 29, Pakistan has its youngest population in history. However, a majority of the youth lack the advanced skills needed to meet global market demands. At the same time, the country has the largest number of freelancers, making it one of the top five countries for providing digital freelancing services. It is clear that digital skills can create job opportunities for youth and are more of a necessity than a choice.
The National Rural Support Programme (NRSP) and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) are working together to support digital skills for underprivileged youth in Pakistan. They are implementing the “Revitalizing Youth Enterprise (RYE) through digital and life skills training” project, which is funded by the Citi Foundation’s “Pathways to Progress” initiative. This program addresses the global issue of youth unemployment by building job skills.
The project has provided digital skills training in e-commerce, digital marketing, social media management, graphic design, and life skills to 200 young people from underdeveloped areas in four cities, including Karachi, Sukkur, Bahawalpur, and Multan.
Two success stories of project beneficiaries are as follows:
Mr. Muhammad Sheeraz Saeed from Hasilpur, Punjab, graduated from the Government College of Technology with a degree in civil engineering in 2019 but was unable to find a job. The online learning training program gave him both digital and life skills. He was trained in digital marketing because he saw its importance in the job market. He said that the skills he gained have made him more productive and relevant. After training in Canva, Facebook, website development, and e-commerce, he created business accounts on Facebook, Instagram, and Fiverr and is now looking for clients.
Ms. Zoofa Sajid from Chak 143 Murad in Punjab was searching for employment after graduating in commerce. She heard about the “Revitalizing Youth Enterprise (RYE) through digital and life skills training” through her village community organization. She was selected for the social media management and life skills course and was thrilled. She learned how to create and edit social media posts and videos, and how to get online work, especially on Fiverr. She found an international client and was paid $75. She is now on a mission to inspire girls in her village to acquire digital skills.