BALOCHISTAN

YOUTH POLICY
2024

Sports and Youth Affairs, Department

Government of the Balochistan
 1. Abbreviations
2. Acknowledgment
3. Chapter 1 Policy Background and Context
3. 1.1: Background
Table of Contents
4. 1.2: Introduction
5. 1.3: Methodology and Approach
5. 1.4: Demography and Socio-economic Situation of Youth in Balochistan
10. 1.5: Rationale for Balochistan Youth Policy
10. 1.5: Target Audience of the Balochistan Youth Policy
10. 1.6: Current arrangement of the youth development in the province

14. Chapter 2 Key Issues and Challenges Concerning Youth in Balochistan

14. 2.1: Economic Development
17. 2.2: Social Empowerment
20. 2.3: Challenges of Political participation and civic engagement:

19. Chapter 3 The Mandate of the Balochistan Youth Policy

19. 3.1: Vision
19. 3.2: Mission
19. 3.3: Core Values
20. 2.4: Policy Principles

21. Chapter 4 Balochistan Youth Development Goals and Strategies

22. Developmental Goal 1 - Economic Empowerment of Youth
26. Development Goal 2 - Social Development of Youth
33. Development Goal 3 – Political participation and empowerment

36. Chapter 5 Governance Framework and Institutional Mechanism

37. 5.1: Governance Framework
37. 5.1: Youth Affairs in the Post-18th Amendment Era

39. Chapter 6 Institutional Mechanism for Implementation of the Policy

39. Hierarchical Structure
40. 6.1: Balochistan Youth Development Commission
42. 6.2: Inter-Departmental Coordination Committee on Youth
Development
42. 6.3: Department of Sports and Youth Affairs
44. 6.4: Youth Policy Planning and Implementation Unit

45. Chapter-7 Budget allocation, Review and Revision

46. 7.1: Budget Allocation
46. 7.2: Review and Revision

49. Reference
 AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Abbreviations
BYDC Balochistan Youth Development Commission
BYP Balochistan Youth Policy
CEPEC China Pakistan Economic Corridor
CSOs Civil Society Organizations
DYDCs District Youth Development Committees
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
IEC Information Education Commission
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IMR Infant Mortality Rate
LFS Labour Force Survey
LSBE Life Skilled Base Education
M&E Monitoring And Evaluation
M&PAC Monitoring & Performance Audit Cell
MPI Multidimensional Poverty Index
NAVTECH National Vocational & Technical Training Commission
NYP National Youth Policy
PDHS Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey
PPP Public Private Partnership
SDGs Sustainable Development Goals
SMEDA Small and Enterprise Development Agency
TOT Training Of Trainers
TVETA Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority
UNDP United Nations Development Program
UNESCO United Nations Education, Scientific and Culture
Organization.
UNSDGs United Nations Sustainable Development Goal
YPPIU Youth Planning & Policy Implementation Unit

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
As the Secretary of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, I am grateful to
acknowledge the invaluable support and contributions in formulating the
Youth Policy. Firstly, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Chief
Minister of the Government of Balochistan Mir, Sarafraz Ahmad Bugti, whose
leadership and vision have been instrumental in guiding our efforts. I am also
grateful to Member National Assembly, Nawabzada Jamal Khan Raisani, for
his unwavering support and advocacy for the youth, which has significantly
influenced the direction of our policy initiatives. The dedication of Ms Fauzia
Shaheen, Chairperson of the Balochistan Commission on status of women,
to gender equality, empowerment of young women and overall formulation
of policy has enriched our policy framework, ensuring it is both inclusive and
comprehensive. The contribution of Dr, Sarmad Saeed Khan provincial lead
UNFPA by providing his valuable inputs regarding youth’s health and
population challenges and way forwards. The expertise of Mr Daud Khan, the
Programm Officer at UNDP, has been pivotal in aligning our policy with
international standards and best practices, enhancing its overall
effectiveness. I also wish to acknowledge the academic contributions of Mr
Javed Sarparah Associate Professor of the University of Balochistan, whose
research has provided a strong foundation for evidence-based
policymaking. The passion and commitment of youth activist Balach Khan
have been a driving force in ensuring that our policy truly reflects the
aspirations and needs of the young people of Balochistan. I am deeply
thankful to Mr Muhammed Usman, CEO of Liaison Corporation, for his
strategic insights and to Mr Abbas Ali Khosa, Director of Youth Affairs
Balochistan, for his leadership within the department, which has been crucial
in coordinating efforts and ensuring that the policy is both practical and
impactful. The collaborative efforts of these distinguished individuals have
culminated in a robust and forward-thinking Youth Policy that we are
confident will serve the best interests of our youth and contribute to their
holistic development.
Dr Javed Anwar Shahwani
Secretary
Sports & Youth Affairs Departmennt
Government of Balochistan

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 CHAPTER 1: POLICY BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

BACKGROUND

Tracing the trajectory of Balochistan’s history goes back to over 9000 years of Mehrgarh
civilizations. Over time, the region has been influenced by various other civilizations
including but not limited to Iranians, Macedonians, Arabs, Ghaznavid, Afghans, Mongols,
and Mughals. (Ahmed et al., 2020). Despite having huge reserves of natural and the
availability of youth resources, a plethora of these has remained unexplored and
undeveloped. The increasing population and youth bulge have been identified as the key
challenges, as education and employment are considered the most important areas not
only in Balochistan but as a whole in the country (Anwar et al., 2023). Having one of the
world’s youngest potential workforce can be an opportunity to contribute to the province’s
economic growth and sustainable development. Unfortunately, the province lacks the
capacity to produce a skilled workforce with 60% of its population below the age of 18
(Anwar et al., 2023). In the next thirty years, the working-age population of the province
will double. Besides many other factors, the main factor of this disappointing situation is
01 02
the absence of a comprehensive socio-economic development roadmap inclusive of
youth, the unavailability of a well-structured and defined youth policy and weak practice
strategies. Many studies highlight that high unemployment among the provincial youth
leads to increased poverty, social unrest, and greater socio-economic challenges at the
individual as well as collective levels (Ahmad & Shah, 2022; Anwar et al., 2023). Education
and skill development can be critical mechanisms to achieve the short, medium and
long-term goals to join the global top economies. For some commentators, the regions
that have demonstrated significant progress in economic and human development have
focused on investing in their human capital to produce skilled and educated human
resources. Those regions with lower social and economic indicators are characterized by
inefficient and unskilled human resources that are not equipped with the required level of
education and expertise (Anwar et al., 2023).

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1.2 INTRODUCTION
The Government of Pakistan defines ‘youth’ as those young persons who are between the
ages of 15 to 29 years constituting a significant group of the national and provincial
population. The United Nations considers youth between 15-24 years old. The Balochistan
Youth Policy 2024 considers the nationally defined age group of 15-29 years as the
province’s youth. The Balochistan Youth Policy is the key instrument that ensures a
governing technology to embed the youth voice in the decision-making and provide ways
to plan, implement and evaluate various initiatives for the development of youth. It aims to
engage the youth and prepare grounds for their economic, social, political and cultural
development enabling them to actively and meaningfully participate in individual and
collective activities and nation-building. By enhancing their skills and shaping their
personality, the policy intends to inculcate the values of good citizenship, tolerance and
productivity in their behaviour and conduct.

It is crucial that the youth of Balochistan is harnessed and nurtured in a systematic and
proper way and this policy promises to respond to their immediate and long-term
genuine needs. Through the youth policy, the Balochistan Government strives to develop a
range of priorities through evidence-based policy practices, implementation modalities
and policy revisions to produce a productive young population. The processes of youth
policy also ensure that the youth population is involved at every level of development and
policy initiatives. Engaging them in policy decisions and policy implementation not only
empowers them01but also develops ownership 02 of various activities which in turn makes
them active, hopeful, and enlightened in their future endeavours.

The 21st century requires that every young person is equipped with the knowledge, skills,
and opportunities to become agents of change, capable of shaping their futures and
positively impacting the world around them. In this sphere, the youth policy imagines
having equitable, inclusive, rights-based, transparent, accessible and market-based
avenues, facilities and opportunities to advance their prosperity, well-being, resilience and
growth. Investigating the issues and challenges the youth usually confront in socio-
economic and political arenas, the policy devises strategies, institutional mechanisms and
action plans to address those by 2030. Keeping in view the requirements of neoliberal
governance, the policy emphasizes collaborative efforts through networks, public-private
partnerships and stakeholder alliances. This collaboration will ensure transforming youth
bulge into a productive group to build Pakistan and Balochistan as a prosperous and
developed region.

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1.3 Methodology & Approach

After reviewing the literature and secondary data regarding the poverty and development
indicators in relation to Balochistan province, it was imperative to generate primary data in
order to develop the Balochistan Youth Policy. For this purpose a broad-based
consultative process was initiated by engaging the key stakeholders, the youth, in
particular, to map out the issues and challenges the province’s young population was
facing. In eleven districts through 18 consultative sessions, 57 in-depth interviews and 452
questionnaires, 700 youth in addition to experts, practitioners and community members
participated in the policy process. Furthermore, 150 organizations participated in this
mapping exercise throughout the province. The data collected in the three major thematic
areas including social, economic and political, was transcribed and collated and
resultantly a range of sub-themes emerged. The sub-themes were documented and the
draft was shared with the stakeholders for their review and feedback. The youth policy is
informed by this collective articulation of youth challenges that has helped identify areas
and appropriate strategies for producing the policy and practice.

1.4 Demography and Socioeconomic Situation of Youth in Balochistan

As the largest province by area, Balochistan accounts for 5.94% of the country’s
population, 44% of its land area and is spread over 347,190 square kilometers. It became a
province of Pakistan in 1970. Unlike the national average of 60%, the table below shows that
71% of the total population is below 30 years in Balochistan and out of which 53% lives in
rural and 19% in urban areas.

Table 1
Balochistan: Persons between 0-29 Years of Age (in %age)

Total Rural Urban

Age Both
Male Female Both Sexes Male Female Both Sexes Male Female
Sexes

0-4 Years 17 8 9 13 6 7 4 2 2

05-09 Years 20 11 9 15 8 7 5 3 2

10-14 Years 15 9 6 11 6 4 4 2 2

15-19 Years 8 5 3 6 4 2 2 1 1

20-24 Years 6 3 3 4 2 2 2 1 1

25-29 Years 6 2 3 4 2 2 2 1 1

Total 71 38 33 53 28 25 19 10 9

Balochistan: Youth in Active Age Group (15-29 years)

15-19 Years 8 5 3 6 4 2 2 1 1

20-24 Years 6 3 3 4 2 2 2 1 1

25-29 Years 6 2 3 4 2 2 2 1 1

Total 20 11 9 14 8 7 6 3 3

Source: Pakistan Economic Survey, 2017-18

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Youth Development Index (YDI):
Balochistan has the lowest YDI value among
Pakistan's provinces at 0.435, compared to
the national average of 0.605. This index
measures various factors such as
education, employment, and health
indicators specific to the youth aged 15 to
29​.

Challenges and Opportunities:

The youth in Balochistan face significant

challenges in accessing skills and
opportunities that are crucial for their
development and well-being.

There is a marked disparity between male

and female YDI values, with young women
faring particularly poorly in employment-
related indicators​

Comparative Provincial Data: Rationale for Balochistan Youth Policy

Compared to other provinces, Sindh has the

highest YDI, followed by Punjab and Khyber The employment-to-population ratio is defined as, the
Pakhtunkhwa. Balochistan's performance is
notably below the national average​
number of employed persons expressed as a
percentage of working age population (10 Years &
Idle and Unemployed Youth: above). According to the Labour Force Survey (LFS)
A large number of youth in Balochistan 2020-21, the overall employment-to-population ratio is
remain idle or unemployed, which poses 42.1 % and this ratio is higher in male (64.1 %) as
risks of increased crime and violence if their
compared to females (19.4 %). The province-wise
development needs are not addressed.
Nationally, there are 27 million such 'idle' comparison also shows the same pattern. In Punjab
youth. employment to population ratio is 44.2 %, followed by
Source: UNDP calculations based on LFS
Sindh (42.1 %), Balochistan (38.6 %) and KP (36 %),
2017-2018 and PMMS, 2019. respectively. Fig 1 depicts the employment-to-
population ratio.

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Multidimensional Poverty

Despite having huge reserves of natural resources, the human development

indicators in Balochistan are the lowest within the country and water for
irrigation and drinking is scarcely available. The table below shows that the
overall multi-dimensional poverty incidence in Balochistan is 71%, which is
significantly higher than the national average of 38.8%. Compared with the
trends at the national level, the situation in urban areas is even more
challenging than in the rural areas in the province. The MPI in Balochistan’s
urban population is three times with a ratio of 37.7% as compared to the
national average of 12.6%. The province’s rural population overall is poorer
than the urban population.
Table 3
Incidence of Multi-dimensional Poverty

Pakistan Balochistan

Multi- dimensional Poverty

38.8% 71%
Incidence

Multi- dimensional Poverty Incidence by Residence

Urban Population 12.6% 37.7%

Rural population 56.5% 84.6%

Multidimensional Poverty in Pakistan - UNDP

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 Literacy Status

Similarly, the situation of literacy in the province is not so encouraging. As

shown in Table 2, 54.5% of the population of 10 years and over is literate,
with male 69.4% and female 36.8%. The difference between male and
female literacy in urban and rural areas is significantly higher where 80% of
males and 31.1% females are literate.

Table 3
Literacy rate of Balochistan by residence and by gender (10 years and above)

Literacy rate of Balochistan

Description Male Female Total

Literacy rate by Gender 69.4% 36.8% 54.5%

Literacy rate by residence and by gender

Urban Population 80.0% 50.9% 66.8%

Rural population 65.0% 31.1% 49.5%

Pakistan Economic Survey 2021-22

Health Indicators

Child health-related indicators have shown that 39% of children in the

province are stunted, 18% and 47% are wasted and underweight,
respectively. According to the PDHS 2017-18, the data indicates the under-5
mortality rate (U5MR), the child mortality rate and the infant mortality rate
(IMR) as 78, 13 per 1000 and 66 per 1000 live births, respectively.

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Socio-economic Status

In the Global Competitive Index, the World Economic Forum ranked Pakistan
as 125th in education and skills and 127th in ICT adoption pillars out of 140
countries (Schwab, 2018, p. 448) and Balochistan’s situation is even more
challenging. This depiction of low education quality and the low productive
nature of economic activities points to a lack of access to decent work and
productive employment of the province’s youth. UNESCO (2015) argues that
technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is fundamental to
sustainable economic and social development through the development of
the productive capacity of young people and adults. The opportunities for
the development of young people’s capacity are limited due to - insufficient
labour market information, low quality and quantity of skill development
practices, conventional mode for economic and business relation
development, gender priorities and low priority of investing in human capital
development (Bashir et al., 2023). A wide range of claims suggests that
enhancing young people’s skills through quality education and training is
vital in addressing skill shortages according to the changing market
demands, as well as increasing youth unemployment in the province
(Anwar et. al., 2023). Significant aspects of Balochistan’s education and skill
development systems are not aligned with the current market demands for
so-called 21st-century skills, which reduces young people’s chances of
employability and does not significantly contribute to the sustainable
development objectives of poverty reduction and economic growth. The
unexpected escalation of criminal activities in certain parts of the province
further poses risks to the well-being and security of its youth population.
There are other notable differences in employment prospects between rural
and urban areas, mostly due to a lack of job options, particularly for recent
graduates (Achakzai et al., 2023). A large number of young people from
rural areas are forced to relocate to urban areas in pursuit of jobs, adding
to the pressure on the urban labour market and decreasing the
employment opportunities available in rural areas. The region's
unemployment rates are caused by several factors, including but not
limited to a mismatch between job opportunities and career aspirations, a
lack of employable skills from formal education, cultural pressure of early
marriage by sacrificing career goals for the family priorities, a lack of
funding for entrepreneurship, and regional differences in job concentration.

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1.5 Rationale for Balochistan Youth Policy

In 1989 for the first time in Pakistan’s history, a youth affairs division was established at the
federal level. The first national youth policy was developed in 2009 after having four policy
drafts in 1989, 1993, 2002 and 2004. The enactment of the national youth policy in 2009 was a
significant milestone in the trajectory of youth development in the country. Considering the
rapid population growth and the youth bulge, the national policy charted 15 principles
alongside a national action plan to focus the investment towards the youth.
In 2010 due to the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment, many constitutional responsibilities
were devolved to the provinces including the youth affairs making the provinces as sole
authority over the subject. This constitutional amendment legitimises the production of the
Youth Policy by the provinces. In the post-eighteenth amendment constitutional
arrangement, the global and inter-provincial affairs in relation to the youth are coordinated
and overseen by the federal government. However, the legislative powers regarding youth
centres, youth hostels, youth organisations and other initiatives are the provincial
responsibilities. The national internship program and the national volunteer program are the
responsibilities of the establishment division.

In this context, the Balochistan Youth Policy takes the National Youth Policy(NYP) 2009, and
other global policy commitments such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(UNSDGs) and the contemporary situation into account to develop this policy document.

1.6 Target Audience of the Balochistan Youth Policy

The Target Audience for the Balochistan Youth Policy encompasses a diverse range of
individuals, primarily focusing on the youth demographic within the Balochistan region. This
policy is designed to address the unique needs, challenges, and aspirations of young people
aged between 15 and 29 years old, who form a significant portion of the province's
population. It aims to empower youth from various backgrounds, including those from rural
and urban areas, different ethnicity, genders, and socio-economic status. The policy targets
general youth, students, job seekers, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, and activists, recognizing
the diverse talents and potential contributions they can make to the development of
Balochistan. By providing opportunities for education, skills development, employment, civic
engagement, and leadership, the Balochistan Youth Policy aims to harness the energy and
creativity of its youth population, ultimately contributing to the overall progress and prosperity
of the province.

1.7 Current arrangement of youth development in the province

The Balochistan government emphasizes the development of youth an educated, energetic

and skilled workforce to contribute to the province’s growth and prosperity.

10
In doing so, various programs have been devised and strategies initiated in various
departments such as Labour and Manpower, Social Welfare, Industries and Commerce,
Women Development Department and Sports and Youth Affairs. However, all these programs
and initiatives are currently fragmented and being implemented by different departments
without any proper collaboration and coordination. For example, Technical and Vocational
Training Institutes impart skill training to the youth without collaborating with the Youth Affairs,
Industries & Commerce Department conduct training programs for the youth in handicrafts,
carpet weaving, tailoring and knitting and so on, similarly, the Sports and Youth Affairs
Department works in various youth engagement and entrepreneurship programs.
Having said this, the Sports and Youth Affairs Department strives to engage and mainstream
the youth in different ways through sports activities and events, youth festivals and training
programs. The directorate and district offices of the Youth Affairs organize regional, divisional
and district-level programs in coordination with the stakeholders to promote youth
engagement. Youth are provided opportunities and support to participate in national and
international forums through awareness raising, motivation, leadership training through
renowned experts. Youth hostels are being established in divisional headquarters and in
some districts to provide them with a safe and healthy environment to stay in while
participating in a training programs. Local youth organizations are engaged and promoted
to organize different youth-related activities.

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 CHAPTER 2: KEY ISSUES AND CHALLENGES CONCERNING YOUTH
IN BALOCHISTAN

The youth of Balochistan undergo a plethora of issues and challenges during their struggle
for an improved life. These issues and challenges can be categorized into the following key
areas:

2.1 Economic Development

Economic development is considered from the perspective of an increase
in a country's wealth and standard of living. Improved productivity, higher
literacy rates, and better public education are linked to the discourse of
economic development in a country. The country’s economy, in general,
and Balochistan’s, in particular, is going through a phase of uncertainty
and disappointment and as a result, the young population is the most
affected.

The mismatch between needs and supply: Nearly two decades ago the Governor of the
State Bank of Pakistan indicated a mismatch between the emerging needs of the economy
and the scarce supply of skilled and educated workforce in the country (Hussain, 2005). In
this situation, the production of youth policy aiming to provide an enabling environment for
youth development is crucial to bridge this gap. The policy initiatives focusing on gender
equality and encouraging women's active participation in the workforce will have significant
social and economic returns (Anwar, 2022). Creating workplaces that are both safe and
supportive, alongside offering flexible work arrangements, can facilitate the seamless
integration of women into employment. Practising policy initiatives focused on equipping
young individuals with essential life skills, effective communication, and emotional
intelligence, complementing their technical abilities will enhance their overall employability.

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET): The current Pakistan education
system, particularly TVET, is ill-prepared to equip young people with skills needed for the
present or future competitive global economies (Anwar et al., 2023). Pakistan has not
prioritized TVET, or addressed the issues of quality education, or come to terms with
shortages of institutions and teachers to produce a skilled workforce. Youth skills
development is ignored in the formal Pakistan education system (Ministry of Education, 2009;
NAVTEC, 2009) and the TVET sector is incapable of developing youth skills in accordance
with the national and international job market requirements. TVET is considered an
educational and training system for young people who come from lower socio-economic
status backgrounds (NEMIS-AEPAM, 2021). There are around 1.8 million new labour market
entrants annually from formal schooling, and 4.4 million young people are not captured in
formal schooling.

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For an estimated 5.0 million trainees, and in addition to those entering tertiary education who
require skill development, there are 437,000 training places available in 3740 training
institutes with 18,207 trained teachers in the TVET sector (Anwar et al., 2023). The total
number of TVET institutions is around 1.23% of the overall educational institutions and student
enrolment in these institutions contributes to less than one per cent of the total enrolment in
the country’s education (NEMIS-AEPAM, 2021, p. 21). To cater for the education and training
needs of these young people, approximately 45,000 training institutes and 200,000 more
TVET teachers are required. At the same time, there is a gender gap with women’s
participation in the labour force at 24.3% and female participation in TVET institutions at 10%
(Anwar et al., 2023).

Rurality and youth of Balochistan: These issues are even more pronounced in rural areas of
the provinces of Pakistan particularly Balochistan. In these contexts, there is a profound
imbalance in the skilling of trades amongst TVET institutions, skill trade deficiencies, gender-
biased provision of skills, compromised skill training, inadequate TVET capacity, inadequate
design and implementation of programs, and non-collaboration amongst TVET institutions
and authorities (Ahmed et al., 2018). Balochistan lacks the capacity to benefit from the
employment and decent work opportunities that mega projects such as the China-Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC), multi-billion dollar gold-copper mining projects of Reko Diq and
Saindak, or international markets provide in Europe, the Middle East and neighbouring
countries in the Gulf (Wedmann & Iqbal, 2017). These opportunities may provide young
people with socioeconomic benefits and a rise in their quality of life, but only if they have the
appropriate training and skill development needed to obtain employment. Challenges for
TVET remain in Balochistan with “slower and lower skill formation, skill shortages and biases
for females and rural areas, in-competitiveness of local skill provision regionally, the expected
arrival of Chinese skilled labour-force, expansion of TVET trades to highly driven skills, and
lowest socioeconomic indicators for the establishment and development of TVET” (Ahmed et
al., 2018, p.177).

Skills for All: The national government has initiated a program called ‘Prime Minister’s Skills for
All – Hunarmand Pakistan’ to enable young people to participate in the mega projects of
CPEC and Reko Diq, and other technologically innovative market demands (Finance Division,
2021). These programs aim to develop and upgrade both young people’s skills and training
infrastructure. However, this national-level initiative is coordinated and implemented by the
National Vocational & Technical Education Commission (NAVTEC) at the national level which
is top-down, inadequate and limited to specific regions, districts and youth populations.
NAVTEC has established or upgraded 753 high-tech institutes from Punjab, 290 from Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, 420 from Sindh, 401 from Islamabad Capital Territory, and none from
Balochistan province. It further claims over 70,000 people have participated in training but
their data is not available.

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4th Industrial Revolution: Pakistan has been slow to reap the benefits of the 4th Industrial
Revolution, and its new technological advances in automation, e-commerce, and artificial
intelligence. However, the country aims to increase its information technology sector (Ministry
of IT & Telecom, 2018). Education providers in Pakistan will need to enrol more young people
in schools to become skilled and experienced in working with new technologies. These skills
take on new significance due to the dependency on online learning, and the shift to online
employment. As a career choice, TVET continues to be negatively perceived. Skilled young
people are not considered educated, and most of the skills are learnt informally through the
traditional system of ustaad-shagird (Wedmann & Iqbal, 2017). In this system, those who
cannot go to school and/or drop out from school get practical training as a shagird
(learner) from an ustad (expert) who is already working in the industry. No career pathways
are available to students to pursue a skill and to continuously upgrade it. As Khan (2009,
p_p. 603_–604) suggests:

Even if institutional excellence, governance, and physical and electronic

infrastructure can be ensured, the major crisis facing the Pakistani
economy will remain the absence of employable skills, competence in
hard and soft skills, rather than under investment in business and
economic activity.

Employability: The youth in Balochistan faces multiple economic challenges i.e

unemployment, lack of required skills for employment, lack of structures for labour
development and poverty. Both urban and rural youth rate, unemployment is the biggest
problem faced by the youth. However, the problem is severe in rural areas as compared to
the urban centers. The female youth rate of unemployment is higher as compared to males.
Poverty and lack of structure are rated as second and third challenges, while lack of
necessary skills, inflation and feudal system are rated the lowest. The total number of
employed and unemployed people has increased in Balochistan over the past few years
indicating an increase in the workforce. This youth group comes from the highest population
densities that require a need to develop infrastructure and to enhance employment
opportunities in these areas. About 51% of the total people employed are working in
agriculture, forestry and fishing industry. The province produces fruits and vegetables. Due to
lack of proper irrigation systems and arid and semi-arid climate, it is difficult to practice
year-round sowing and cultivation. In some areas, 'Karez' system is still used for limited
irrigation. Wholesale and retail trade, employing about 15.2% of the employed people, is the
second biggest sector. Initially, the government's focus is on developing the primary sectors
which will in turn lead to the development of secondary and tertiary sectors.

The largest employers in urban areas are wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and
hotels. It is important to note that manufacturing employs only 8% of urban residents while
public administration and health and education sectors employ around 10% of the urban
workforce. Female employment is extremely low in urban areas and mostly are employed in
agriculture, health and education services. However, the share of economically active female
youth has doubled from 7% in 1999-00 to 14%, while the share of economically active male
youth increased from 44% to 69% over the same period.

14
Data also indicates that the willingness to join the labour force by the youth as well as the
unemployment rate begins to rise after the metric level. This shows the non-availability of
jobs at higher levels of education, particularly in the case of female youth.
Local market analysis and skills mapping is another question, that has to be addressed; while
the availability of a trained and quality labour force is also intrinsically linked with the state of
quality education.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Relevant to Economic Challenges to Youth

SDG 1: No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere.

Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable
SDG 2:
agriculture.

SDG 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic
SDG 8:
growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure - Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and
SDG 9:
sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Reduce inequality within and among countries.

2.2 Social Empowerment

Social development refers to the process of enabling individuals and/or
communities to exert control over their lives and improve their social and
economic status. This involves access to resources, opportunities and
support systems that allow people to participate fully in society, make
informed decisions, and advocate for their rights.

15
Social uplift: The economic development of youth must be synergized with the social uplift of
young individuals who are progressive, egalitarian and sensitive to the common good of the
society. Given the under-development and diversity of youth in the province, maintaining this
balance is crucial. Social challenges being faced by the youth of Balochistan include
education for youth development, integrated health and sports, drug addiction, gender
mainstreaming and barriers for male, female and transgender youth, and cohesion, lack of
required data on youth (particularly gender-segregated data), youth physical and
psychological insecurities, questions of identity, culture and local art, and lack of youth
activism and volunteerism and inadequate mentoring opportunities which lead to weak
moral, social, cultural and religious values and cohesion among the youth.

Access to Quality Education: Education is the key driver of socio-economic development.

However, for the purpose of youth development those aspects of education are directly
relevant which inculcate social and economic competencies in youth. This is primarily the
realm of - quality education, including lack of education for skill development, enhanced
learning outcomes, institutional framework such as regulation and standardization, curricula
issues, non-academic programming and extra-curricular activities, career counselling, and
socially-sensitive and enlightened envisioning of education – to enable the youth towards
critical thinking.

The youth of Balochistan are aware of the social challenges that limit their prospects of
development. It was found out during the background research in the policy process of BYP-
2024 that the rural youth consider, issues such as lack of education for skill development, lack
of quality education, and curricula are higher as compared to their urban counterparts
signifying major rural-urban gap. The lack of institutional framework for youth development
was considered highest by both rural and urban youth. While transport and travel issues
were considered lowest among rural and urban youth as well as among all age groups.
However, Females considered transport issues slightly higher as compared to male youth.
The focus of education has been increasing access to school that has resultantly enhanced
the literacy rate in the province. There is also a need to develop primary and secondary
school infrastructure as well as introducing skill development in rural schools and universities
and research facilities to be established in urban areas. Such education facilities have to be
gender-inclusive, as the situation of the female youth remains the same even in districts,
which are ranked high in development. In addition to that, a special focus on the youth
studying in religious institutions (madrasahs) is direly needed. The policy issues concerning
the current curriculum were also indicated to be addressed. The curriculum can also include
gender sensitization and Life Skill Based Education (LSBE) content, to improve the status of
women and girls, while also providing young people with education and skills to understand
and work on issues related to adulthood.

Furthermore, instead of opting for a uniform system of education, special emphasis must be
laid on standardization of evaluation tools. The design of the curriculum needs to emphasize
the defined learning outcomes that must be achieved at each progressive level of education.
The curriculum should focus on developing logical and critical thinking rather than
memorization of facts and rote learning. This will also need teacher training, understanding
and innovative and interactive ways of instruction, friendly to the students.
15
Non-formal and community learning: The internship in university level is very important for
the future of youth. Non-formal learning typically takes place in community settings,
swimming classes for small children, sports clubs of various kinds for all ages, reading
groups, debating societies, amateur choirs and orchestras. On the other hand, youth health
and sport is rated higher by males as compared to females. This can be attributed to the
historical continuity of sports facilities for boys. Also, youth health and sport is rated highest
by the youngest age group, which is 15-19 years old.

Early childhood marriage: Child marriages are a very prevalent phenomenon in Balochistan
contributing to the higher maternal and infant mortality rates. The tendency of early-age
marriages among girls is higher as compared to the boys’. Child marriage in Balochistan: A
political economy Analysis indicates the incidence of child marriage as 12.5% for girls below
15 and 45% below eighteen. The high prevalence of this practice contributes immensely to
deprivation from educational opportunities, low economic participation limited access to
labour markets and increased vulnerability leading to gender-based violence. The
Balochistan Youth policy focuses on a multi-prong approach to address this practice
through legislation limiting the minimum age of marriage age to 18 years and prohibiting the
customary norms supporting such practices. Furthermore, it also emphasizes increasing
access to formal and life skills education to enhance the probability of active labour force
participation of youth.

Health Issues: Integrated health and population-related problems for youth mainly concern
reproductive health. The communication gap related to reproductive health education
currently exists due to cultural norms. Integrated health issues extend from physical to
psychological and social aspects of well-being and gender parities in societies. There is a
dire need to impart knowledge related to these topics to youth so that they can know
themselves more and improve their decision-making process. In Balochistan around 7% of
women aged 15-19 had already started motherhood. The province faces a serious nutrition
challenge. It has the second highest rate of nutritional stunting among children under age 5
(52.2%) and the prevalence of underweight children here is 39.6%. Unfortunately, these
figures have not changed significantly in the past decade.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Relevant to Social Challenges to Youth

Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all
SDG 3:
ages.

Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
SDG 4:
lifelong learning opportunities for all.

SDG 5: Gender Equality - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for
SDG 16: sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

16
 2.3 Challenges of Political participation and civic engagement:
Political participation: Political Participation and engagement of youth
need a special focus because low voter turnout in the general and local
elections is indicative of low political participation of citizens in
democratic processes. Pakistan’s voter turnout in the successive general
elections has been one of the lowest not only in South Asia but also in the
global context. This also depicts low turnout in the elections by the youth
because a significant population of the youth is eligible to participate in
the voting process.

Inclusion of the youth in the political process can have a significant impact on society in the
shape of political awareness, which in turn can reshape the political manifestos of the
political parties towards youth development. In the prevailing political culture, the elders of
the society and/or households make the political decisions and very little space is left for the
youth to participate in political decision-making. There are limited opportunities for seeking
political education and awareness which further reproduces disassociation of the youth from
political engagement.

The main technique of engaging the youth in the political process is promoting student
associations/unions/councils in the academic institutions where young student’s political
leadership skills are developed. These kinds of forums can become political nurseries to
create a nurturing environment and resultantly the youth obtains political awareness
enabling them to identify the problems and solutions that the country and the province are
facing. Distancing the youth from the political process restricts the opportunities for positive
and healthy discussions. Any such approach can be counterproductive and lead to violence
and other negative involvement of the youth energy.

Similarly, the fixed or a sizable representation of the youth in representative bodies such as
local councils and the provincial legislative assembly is critical. The Youth Policy will take
measures to ensure youth representation in the local and provincial representative bodies.

Civic Responsibilities & Citizenship Rights: Responsibilising the youth in generating and
participating in civic activities and citizenship rights is the key to youth empowerment.
Through awareness, sensitization and education, the youth can be informed about their rights
and responsibilities and also practice in the everyday life. The anxiety, suspicion, scepticism
and trust deficit between the youth and the governing institutions emerge because of their
unawareness and lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities. They do not have
much knowledge about the legal and constitutional rights and responsibilities of the citizens
and also the way the governing system works. In this situation it is imperative that the youth
not only is aware about their rights and responsibilities but also engage in the governing
practices, democratic processes and youth development activities.

17
UNSDGs also require the national and provincial governments to take measures to promote
peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. Inclusion of male, female and
transgender youth in the political process through the awareness and policy practices of
their citizenship rights and civic responsibilities is imperative to meet the global policy goals.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Relevant to Political Challenges to Youth

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions - Promote peaceful and

inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to
SDG 16:
justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive
institutions at all levels

18
 CHAPTER 3 THE MANDATE OF THE BALOCHISTAN YOUTH POLICY

VISION 3.1
Every young person is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need
to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society. The vision for youth empowerment is
rooted in the belief that young people are agents of change, capable of shaping their
futures and positively impacting the world around them.

MISSION 3.2
To promote youth engagement at grassroots level by providing a platform to identify
and develop talented youth and providing opportunities at the provincial, national and
international levels

CORE VALUES 3.3

Respect Team Work Compassion Integrity

Inclusion Diversity Excellence

19
3.4 Policy Principles

The fundamental principles that guide the decision-making and

implementation of the Balochistan Youth policy comprise the following:

Ensure that the needs and aspirations of all youth in Balochistan,

including those from marginalized and disadvantaged backgrounds,
are considered and addressed.

Involve youth in the development, implementation, and evaluation of

policies and programs that affect them, ensuring their voices are
heard and their perspectives are valued.

Promote equity by addressing the root causes of inequality and

ensuring that all youth have equal access to opportunities, resources,
and services.

Prioritize education and skills development to equip youth with the

knowledge and capabilities needed to succeed in the modern world.

Support youth in accessing decent and productive employment

opportunities, as well as in starting and growing their own businesses.

Prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of youth,

ensuring access to healthcare, counselling, and support services.

Respect, preserve, and promote the rich cultural heritage of

Balochistan, ensuring that youth are proud of their heritage and
contribute to its preservation.

Promote environmental sustainability and conservation, encouraging

youth to be stewards of their natural environment.

Promote peace, tolerance, and social cohesion among youth, fostering

a sense of unity and solidarity among diverse communities

Establish a proper mechanism for monitoring, evaluation, analysis and

reporting to ensure that resources are efficiently used and the
outcomes are effectively achieved.

20
Chapter 4
Balochistan Youth
Development Goals
and Strategies

21
1
Economic
Development of
Youth
1.1Strategic Objective:
Employment and
Livelihood Development
The employability and livelihood development
strategy of the Balochistan Youth Policy is designed
to empower young people with the skills, resources,
and opportunities they need to secure meaningful
employment, start successful businesses, and
contribute positively to the socioeconomic
development of Balochistan.

Objective 1.1.1 : Information

and awareness raising
Access to economic opportunities and labour
market information stands as a cornerstone of the
Balochistan Youth Policy, designed to equip young
individuals in the province with the necessary tools
and knowledge to navigate the dynamic economic
landscape effectively. A multifaceted approach
shall be adopted to ensure comprehensive
coverage and inclusivity, based on the following
measures:

22
Robust digital platforms and mobile applications shall be developed to
disseminate real-time labour market information, including job vacancies, industry
trends, and skill requirements to empower youth to make informed career
decisions and align their educational pursuits with market demands.

Government will arrange public service messaging, campaigns and develop

Information Education Communication (IEC) material to underscore the need for
decent work, especially among the literate youth. Youth will be made part of such
dissemination.

Involvement of university and college-going students in their respective districts

in peer activities that are helpful for the jobs and skill development of fellow youth.

Targeted career counselling services established to offer personalized guidance,

skills assessment, and career planning support to young people, particularly those
from disadvantaged backgrounds or remote areas.

Establishment of district-level Youth Resource Centers (YRCs) to address similar

needs of the local youth at their doorsteps.

Plan initiatives to encourage the use of IT (social media) to bring local products to
the national and international markets.

Expand information access to public sector programs, services and facilities

through the IT interface and websites of institutions.

23
Objective 1.1.2 - Mapping of Skills and
Demand of Sectors
Mapping the youth skills, youth interest areas and industry
demand is crucial to identify the relevant sectors and
vocations to design training programs. In this regard, the
following measures are proposed:

Develop a centralized information system for youth development and a Job

database of job seekers with public-private partnership.
The government will encourage public and private universities to assign
exploratory studies and student projects on skill mapping and market analysis in
Balochistan.
Based on such evidence-based skill needs the Government will run regular and
weekend programmes for skill development and technical training.
The government will update the curriculum of the vocational training institutes in
accordance with clustering requirements and job opportunities in the
agriculture, livestock, veterinary, mining, fruit processing and fisheries fields and
will prepare a phased expansion programme of such training facilities to other
growth nodes in Balochistan.

Objective 1.1.3 -- Entrepreneurship and

self-employment
Fostering an entrepreneurial culture and providing the
necessary resources, the policy seeks to create a conducive
environment for young entrepreneurs to thrive and contribute
to economic growth in the following ways:
Promote entrepreneurship and provide support for youth-led businesses
through access to finance, mentor-ship programs.
Support and strengthen small-scale business incubation centers for male and
female youth, with wider outreach to districts to polish their ideas and
implement venture activities. For girls, these incubators can be arranged in high
schools of the districts with protection measures and social mobilization.
The government will facilitate initiatives of the social and private sector
organizations to guide young entrepreneurs regarding procedures for opening
new start-ups.
Enhance the outreach of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency
(SMEDA) and train youth to do business, innovate and expand business.
Provision of soft loans for technical and vocational training recipients on a merit
basis, with the help of national and international agencies which are already
implementing such programs in other provinces of Pakistan. Female youth will
be especially provided greater access to loaning facilities.
24
 Promote entrepreneurship, freelancing business and management skills among
youth in cottage industry, local crafts and handicrafts, local trade fairs, hotel
management, IT, accounting and finance, marketing and branding, company
registration, and office services, etc.
Public and private institutions will be encouraged to incorporate enterprise
development and business planning as part of their regular programmes.

Strategic Objective 1.2 - Development

of Human Capital
The youth policy focuses on enhancing technical and employability
skills among youth to develop a productive human capital in
Balochistan. For this purpose the following initiatives are proposed:

Vocational training programs, apprenticeships, and certification courses in high-

demand sectors such as information and communication technology (ICT),
renewable energy, agriculture, and healthcare.
In collaboration with industry stakeholders facilitate access to finance, business
development services, and market linkages for aspiring young entrepreneurs.
Introduce innovation and creativity, encourage the development of start-ups and
small businesses that can contribute to economic growth and job creation.
Online Freelancing Programs, training programs on Drop-shipping and E-
Commerce, digital marketing,coding, Web & Graphic designing, Artificial
Intelligence, and Online Marketing on Social Media Platforms.
Promotion of key potential sectors for youth entrepreneurship and employment,
such as agriculture value chains, renewable energy, and tourism.
Programs shall be structured to cater to the diverse interests and career
aspirations of the youth, encompassing sectors ranging from traditional
industries like agriculture and mining to emerging fields such as technology,
renewable energy, tourism and climate change.
Investing in continuous education and skill enhancement, to make the youth
remain competitive and resilient in the face of technological advancements and
global economic shifts.
Facilitate Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) aligned to the provincial PPP policy by
providing incentives and creating a regulatory framework, to generate a
conducive environment of collaboration, support and trust.
Create opportunities in current mega-development projects in Balochistan to
accommodate youth for the acquisition of better professional, technical and
entrepreneurial skills.

25
 Run a crash program in Training of Trainers (TOT) mode for the unemployed
educated youth and link them with existing micro-credit facilities extended by
private and social enterprises. The provision of equal opportunity to female
youth will be a special consideration.
The Government will strengthen institutions like the Balochistan TEVTA by striving
to make the best use of its facilities and services.

Strategic objective 1.3 - Internships,

scholarships and Job placement
Foster partnerships with private sector entities to create internship programs,
apprenticeships, and on-the-job training opportunities.
Implement robust job placement services that offer career guidance, resume-
building workshops, and interview preparation sessions to equip young
individuals with the requisite skills and confidence to enter the workforce.

2
Provide incentives to businesses to hire local youth to support economic growth
and promote community development.

Social
Development of
Youth
Strategic Objective 2 .1 -
Education and Curriculum
For Youth Development
Investing in education development is a pivotal
strategy within the framework of the Balochistan
Youth Policy. Recognizing that education is the
cornerstone of youth empowerment and socio-
economic progress, the policy places a strong
emphasis on enhancing educational opportunities
and outcomes for young people across
Balochistan.
26
The curriculum of education and skill development is aligned with the
changing requirements of youth development. The curriculum
focuses on nurturing the skills of critical thinking, problem-solving,
and creativity among youth to empower them to become drivers of
innovation and progress in the following ways:

Invest in quality primary, secondary, and higher education improving literacy rate,
inculcating critical thinking skills, and life skills for developing a culture of lifelong
learning among youth.
Inclusive and equitable access to education, particularly for marginalized groups
such as girls, transgender and children from low-income families, and those
living in remote areas.
Develop institutional frameworks i.e. regulation and standardization; curricula
issues; non-academic programming and extra-curricular activities.
The socially sensitive and enlightened envisioning of education enables youth to
practice the values of peace, gender, equity and civic engagement.
Literate youth are made an essential part of the campaigns and during the
commemoration of national and international days.
Include special components on art, music, local history, culture and local
geographies along with life-skill education as part of the syllabus.
Foster digital literacy and media literacy skills. Equip students with the skills to
critically and ethically evaluate online information.
Place a system of invoking non-academic programming to enhance the
competencies of the youth. The schools, colleges and Universities will be bound to
prepare their curricular and extra-curricular calendars for the academic year.
Incorporate research methodologies, practical experimentation, and
interdisciplinary learning approaches in the curriculum to foster a culture of
innovation and entrepreneurship from an early age.

Strategic Objective 2.2 - Integrated

Health and Population Planning
The Government of Balochistan pledges to provide youth-friendly
primary healthcare that is in line with integrated health framework and
practices, delivering programs, facilities and services to match youth
needs and aspirations. The Government recognizes youth health that
secures the physical, mental and social growth of youth and boosts
their social, economic and political development.

27
Ensure that systems are in place, in coordination with other private operators, for
information and counseling of youth in the areas of reproductive health, sexually
transmitted diseases and HIV/ AIDS prevention. Information to enable responsible
choices on physical changes in puberty, sexual health, Mensuration, Health and
Hygiene and reproductive matters with the help of youth-led campaigns and
peer education activities and inclusion of contents in formal education curriculum
and non-formal education.
Develop and implement programs to bring an understanding across the province
about the factors that enable good nutrition.

Strategic Objective 2.3 - Gender

Equality, Women Empowerment and
Mainstreaming Transgender Youth
The policy encompasses a comprehensive framework promoting
gender equality, enhancing women’s empowerment, and
mainstreaming the inclusion of transgender individuals. This holistic
approach seeks to address systemic disparities and ensure equitable
opportunities for all youth across the province in the following ways:

Promote the formation of women's youth groups and organizations for awareness
raising on gender equality in different spheres.
Sensitize society against harmful customary practices i.e. early age/forceful
marriages, gender-based violence, denial of education, enforcement of women’s
property rights and employment rights of girls.
Encourage young girls to collaborate actions with members of the Women
Parliamentary Caucus for mass contacts and building support for anti-
discrimination drives in Balochistan.
Allocate at least 10 % quota for young women in public and private sector jobs.
Dismantle barriers to education, employment, and leadership roles faced by
women and transgender individuals.
Implement gender-responsive educational curricula.
Creation of inclusive workplaces, free from discrimination, where individuals of all
gender identities are provided with equal opportunities for professional growth
and advancement.
Mainstreaming transgender groups include targeted interventions such as legal
protections, healthcare access, and socio-economic support mechanisms
tailored to address the unique challenges faced by transgender individuals.

28
Strategic Objective 2.4 - Youth
Volunteerism, Exposure and
Productive Engagement
A paramount objective of the policy is to cultivate awareness and promote
productive engagement across key areas such as health, education,
socio-economic development, and the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) etc. To materialize this Balochistan Youth Policy aims to initially
establish Youth Resource Centers at the divisional level in its pilot stage
and after reviewing its impact upscale it to the district level. The Youth
Resource Centers will function as information and service provision points
that will be managed by Youth Peer Groups to contribute to the overall
goal of the Balochistan Youth Policy. Involvement in volunteer activities will
enhance the confidence and personal and professional interactions of the
youth preparing them for their future social and economic roles.

Implement targeted initiatives aimed at exposure programs, study tours, cultural

interaction, and raising awareness among youth and build their linkages with
broader societal well-being.
Provide exposure opportunities for youth to actively participate in initiatives that
contribute to advancing health outcomes, expanding access to quality education
and skill training, fostering economic activities, and promoting sustainable
development practices aligned with the SDGs.
Inter-provincial and international exposure visits.
Strategically use the opportunities and platforms provided under its framework
for peace-building and balanced gender relations among youth.
Develop Institutions to engage and rehabilitate vulnerable and high-risk youth.
Pursue developing youth into active and responsible citizens and promote team-
playing and leadership skills among them through their voluntary actions for
personal and socioeconomic development.
Create opportunities and platforms for youth, especially rural youth, for increased
participation in development programs.
Ensure that youth volunteers manage extra-curricular events and gain hands-on
experience using skills like communication, coordination, event management,
documentation action-planning, etc.
Public and private universities will be encouraged to initiate volunteer programs
for partial fulfilment of their degree programs.

29
 Inspire CSOs and youth groups to run youth-involving internship programs with
proper certification. Community-based programs, youth forums, and cultural
exchange events serve as platforms for dialogue, collaboration and mutual
respect to eventually produce a cohesive and inclusive society.
Initiate targeted interventions necessary to address the unique challenges faced
by marginalized youth, including those from rural areas, minority communities,
and deprived backgrounds.
Establish youth advisory councils within governmental bodies.
Engaging youth in policy development, implementation, and evaluation
processes.
Develop robust mechanisms that facilitate meaningful youth participation in
decision-making processes, such as the establishment of youth resource centers,
youth peer groups, youth councils, forums, and advisory boards to enable young
individuals to register their concerns, propose solutions, and advocate for policies
that address their unique challenges and opportunities.

Strategic Objective 2.5 – Mainstreaming

of the youth of Deeni Madaris
The Balochistan Youth Policy emphasizes mainstreaming, the youth of Deeni
Madaris into the education system. By mainstreaming Madaris, the policy aims
to ensure that students receive both religious and secular education, equipping
them with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the emerging
requirements of the 21st century. Integrating Madaris into the education and
skills mainstream will promote social cohesion and inclusivity that will ultimately
bridge the gap between different segments of society and develop mutual
understanding and respect. The mainstreaming of the youth of Madaris will
promote equity, cultural diversity, and social harmony and pave the way for a
brighter future for the youth of the province by adopting the following ways:

Integrate traditional religious education with modern academic subjects to

provide students with a well-rounded and comprehensive educational
experience.
Build the institutional capacity of Madaris and establish standards and guidelines
through an accreditation process to ensure quality education and adherence to
national curriculum frameworks.
Provide support and resources to Madaris, such as combined teacher training
programs and infrastructure development to enhance their capacity to deliver
high-quality education.
Develop a data management information system for the youth enrolled in
Madaris.
30
Strategic Objective 2.6 - Protection of
Youth
The Government will work to ensure the protection of its youth from
physical, mental, social, and psychological abuse. The Government will
mobilize its relevant departments to conduct youth-led awareness
programmes and campaigns. Civil society organizations and youth groups
and organizations will be encouraged to be part of these community
education programs

Curb use of drugs, tobacco, and other toxic substances.

Registration of refugee adolescents and youth in the public documents.
Special programs to prevent youth from entering into militancy and extremism.
Activities to promote a culture of peace and tolerance, and measures to prevent
conflicts.
Rehabilitation programs to provide pathways for individuals who have been
disengaged from extremist/criminal tendencies need to be reintegrated into
society through education, vocational training, and community reintegration
programs.
Collaboration between government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil
society organizations, and community leaders to effectively address the root
causes of extremism and crime, disrupt illicit networks, and promote social
cohesion and resilience.
Programs for juvenile prisoners for social integration and economic
empowerment.
Involve youth in public service messaging and campaigns against hate speech,
celebrating the diversity of Balochistan.
Awareness-raising programs to discourage the practice of illegal immigration,
human trafficking and smuggling among youth.

Strategic Objective 2.7 - Sports, Art,

Culture, Tourism
Balochistan Youth Policy advocates for the promotion of sports and
recreational initiatives as vital elements for promoting unity and resilience
among the province's youth. By harnessing the unifying power of sports,
the policy intends to create opportunities for young individuals to cultivate
teamwork, discipline, and leadership skills while promoting physical and
mental well-being. The policy supports and encourages local arts and
culture and protects, preserves and promotes rich cultural heritage and
traditions efforts in Balochistan by taking the following steps:
31
Promotion of physical education and sports clubs in schools, colleges and
universities.
Support youth sports associations/clubs to initiate national events in Balochistan,
creating opportunities for sports volunteers and engagement of youth including
female athletes in sports.
Linking youth groups and organizations with sports associations to raise profiles
of Balochistan players and create sports icons at the national and international
levels through the use of social media.
Provision of state-of-the-art sports facilities, coaching programs, and
competitive events for inspiring a culture of sportsmanship and healthy
competition, transcending social and cultural divides.
Recreational initiatives such as youth carnivals, and participation in national and
international events to broaden young people's horizons, foster intercultural
understanding, and instil a sense of global citizenship and Pakistani Nationalism.
Promote traditional crafts, performing, visual and fine arts at the provincial,
national, and international levels through entrepreneurship opportunities.
Outreach programs of the local departments of fine arts to undertake and
facilitate training programs shall be designed and implemented.
Support the fine arts departments to house facilities to exhibit arts and crafts.
Constitute a committee of civil society representatives of youth on folk and tribal
culture to advise the Government.
Provide linkages of national theatre houses in the social sector to the universities,
colleges and youth groups and organizations to form local theatre groups.
The Department in collaboration with the Balochistan Tourism Directorate will
devise a “See Balochistan Program” and promote its itinerary with the help of
youth groups and organizations for visitors.
Formation of Backpackers Club consisting of youth for group tourism and guiding
facilities.

32
3
Political
participation and
empowerment
Strategic Objective 3.1 -
Ensure the Participation of
Youth in the Political
Process.
Political participation and engagement of youth
are integral strategies within the Balochistan Youth
Policy to promote socioeconomic development
across the province. Encouraging and facilitating
the active involvement of youth in political
processes, governance structures, and decision-
making platforms will have a profound impact on
their empowerment and the overall development
trajectory of Balochistan. These initiatives not only
provide young people with a platform to voice their
concerns, ideas, and aspirations but also equip
them with the knowledge, skills, and networks
necessary to effectively participate in political
processes by adopting the following ways:

Encourage the establishment of Student societies/associations in

educational institutions through positive political education and the
development of a Code of Conduct.
Encourage voter registration and political education on the right and
importance of vote.
Creation of Balochistan Youth Parliament and youth-focused
political forums.
33
Support the Balochistan Youth Parliament to promote youth leadership
development, political mentor-ship programs, and opportunities for youth to hold
elected or appointed positions in local and provincial governments.
Enhance political education programs like mock voting in educational institutions.
Provision of a 5% Quota for youth in the Local Government and Provincial
Assemblies through the legislative process.
Capacity Building programs for elected Youth in political institutions.
Internship programmes and exposure visits for youth in the provincial assembly
and Local bodies.
Programs for engaging youth for dialogue with elected representatives at all tiers.
Engagement with political parties to include in their party constitutions provisions
for the establishment of youth wings, and youth representation in central
executive committees, manifesto committees and key decision-making bodies.
Educate political parties to commit dedicated interventions for youth in their Party
manifestos.
Design and implement special programs for mainstreaming young girls in the
political process through incentives for making identity cards, voter registration,
facilitation in obtaining party tickets and financial support from political parties
for running their election campaigns.

Strategic Objective 3.2 - Combating

Negative Perception & Propaganda
Recognizing the importance of shaping positive narratives and countering
misinformation, the policy adopts a multifaceted approach to engage with
various stakeholders and amplify the voices of Balochistan's youth.
Combating negative perceptions and propaganda through effective
communication and media strategies is a critical component of the
Balochistan Youth Policy. The communication and media strategy of the
Balochistan Youth Policy combats negative perceptions and propaganda
by amplifying positive narratives, promoting media literacy, developing
responsible journalism, and enhancing youth engagement in shaping their
narratives and futures by taking the following steps:

Develop a comprehensive communication strategy to address the negative

perception and propaganda and instil Pakistani Nationalism.
Showcase success stories of youth entrepreneurs, artists, activists, and
innovators, as well as take initiatives that promote the diversity and richness of
Balochistan's cultural heritage.
Share positive narratives to shape inspiration and confidence among youth and
challenge negative stereotypes that may hinder their opportunities.
34
Inculcate media literacy and critical thinking skills among young people through
educational programs, workshops, and campaigns to help youth discern.
Credible information, develop media literacy skills and navigate digital platforms
responsibly.
Empower youth to be informed through effective media channels, to equip them
to counter misinformation and propaganda effectively.
Develop partnerships with media organizations, civil society groups, and
educational institutions to promote responsible journalism, ethical reporting
practices, and media content that promotes positive narratives about
Balochistan's youth.
Initiatives to train young journalists, support independent media outlets by youth
and promote media freedom and transparency.
Encourage dialogue and engagement between youth and policymakers through
various communication channels, including town hall meetings, social media
platforms, and youth forums.
Create opportunities for meaningful dialogue and participation, to ensure that
youth perspectives are heard, valued, and integrated into decision-making
processes.

35
Chapter 5
Governance Framework
and Institutional
Mechanism

36
5.1 Governance
Framework
5.1.1 Youth Affairs in the
Post-18th Amendment Era
Policy and implementation of youth affairs in Pakistan have been significantly
transformed by two key factors – post 18th Constitutional Amendment that has
abolished Youth Affairs from the Concurrent List and transferred authority over
youth affairs from the Centre to the Provinces, and the emerging realization of
youth bulge in Pakistan that demands a matching policy and implementation
response, and multi-sectoral integration of youth development. This changing
situation not only significantly enhanced the importance of the Balochistan Sports
and Youth Affairs Department but also reshaped its role. The Balochistan Youth
Policy 2024 emphasizes a holistic approach to youth development ranging from
policy practice, goals, objectives, initiatives, implementation to review and revision.
As a focal point of youth development in the province of Balochistan, the Sports &
Youth Affairs Department is responsible for youth mainstreaming into all levels of
policy and programming in the province. It is required to be more vigorously
involved in line with the new constitutional arrangement. The formulation of the
Balochistan Youth Policy 2024 indicates the emerging realities; starting from its
formulation, which will provide a comprehensive framework for youth development
in Balochistan. Established in 1984 under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the
Department served as a platform for guiding young people towards positive
endeavours. By offering structural, technical, and social support, it aimed to help
both educated, illiterate and school dropout youth and continuously strove to
discover and utilize their intrinsic talents.
Recognizing the youth bulge and the need for effective policy implementation
regarding youth, the Department was upgraded to a full-fledged department in
2005. After having adopted the Balochistan Youth Policy 2024, the department is
envisaged to enter into a new regime of youth empowerment in Balochistan.

37
5.2 Institutional Mechanism for
Implementation, Monitoring and
Evaluation
Policy and implementation of youth affairs in Pakistan have been significantly
transformed by two key factors – post 18th Constitutional Amendment that has
abolished Youth Affairs from the Concurrent List and transferred authority over
youth affairs from the Centre to the Provinces, and the emerging realization of
youth bulge in Pakistan that demands a matching policy and implementation
response, and multi-sectoral integration of youth development. This changing
situation not only significantly enhanced the importance of the Balochistan Sports
and Youth Affairs Department but also reshaped its role. The Balochistan Youth
Policy 2024 emphasizes a holistic approach to youth development ranging from
policy practice, goals, objectives, initiatives, implementation to review and revision.
As a focal point of youth development in the province of Balochistan, the Sports &
Youth Affairs Department is responsible for youth mainstreaming into all levels of
policy and programming in the province. It is required to be more vigorously
involved in line with the new constitutional arrangement. The formulation of the
Balochistan Youth Policy 2024 indicates the emerging realities; starting from its
formulation, which will provide a comprehensive framework for youth development
in Balochistan. Established in 1984 under the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the
Department served as a platform for guiding young people towards positive
endeavours. By offering structural, technical, and social support, it aimed to help
both educated, illiterate and school dropout youth and continuously strove to
discover and utilize their intrinsic talents.
Recognizing the youth bulge and the need for effective policy implementation
regarding youth, the Department was upgraded to a full-fledged department in
2005. After having adopted the Balochistan Youth Policy 2024, the department is
envisaged to enter into a new regime of youth empowerment in Balochistan.

38
 CHAPTER 6 INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM FOR IMPLEMENTATION
MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Institutional Mechanism for

Implementation, Monitoring and
Evaluation
Supervisory
Implementation
Monitoring and
Evaluation

39
5.2.1 Balochistan Youth
Development Commission(BYDC)
A dedicated Balochistan Youth Development Commission (BYDC) placed at the
Youth Affairs Department Secretariat will be responsible for providing vision,
strategic direction and institutional road-map for youth development in
Balochistan.
The composition of the Balochistan Youth Development Commission will include the
participation of provincial-related departments, Non Profit Organizations,
International Development Partners, Philanthropists, Think Tanks, Young
Entrepreneurs, representatives from Youth Peer Groups/ Youth Clubs and other
entities working for youth development. The commission shall be constituted for a
period of 03 years and shall be notified by the Department of Sports and Youth
Affairs Department Balochistan with the approval of the Honourable Chief Minister
Balochistan whereas the potential nominations shall be proposed by the Minister/
Advisor and Department. The structure of the commission shall be:

1. Chief Minister Balochistan - Chairperson

2. Minister/Advisor for Sports and Youth Affairs
3. Elected representatives from the Provincial/ National Assembly 2 (1 male, 1
female)
4. Chief Secretary Balochistan
5. Secretary of Sports and Youth Affairs Department also ex-officio Secretary of the
Commission;
6. Representatives of Youth: 5 (male, female, transgender, minority, disabled)
7. Representatives of Civil Society, 2 (1 male, 1 female - youth)
8. Representative of the State Bank of Pakistan
9. Representative of Academic Institutions (Universities-1,Colleges-1 and
Madrisahs-1)
10. Representatives of Media, 2 (1 male, 1 female)
11. Representatives of Religious scholars, 2 (1 male, 1 female)
12. Representatives from Minorities, 2 (1 male, 1 female)
13. Representative of the Human Rights Commission.
14. Representative of the Commission on the Status of Women

The Commission will develop its rules following the Notification with the support of
the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs.

40
The Balochistan Youth Development Commission shall be tasked to establish
compliance and enforcement framework to ensure the effective implementation
and adherence to the policy's mandates. The developed framework shall delineate
clear guidelines, standards, and benchmarks for stakeholders involved in youth-
related initiatives. Compliance measures shall include reporting mechanisms to
assess the progress and outcomes of youth programs and services. Enforcement
measures shall be put in place to address instances of non-compliance, which
may include penalties for violations of policy provisions or failure to meet specified
targets. Moreover, incentives for adherence to the policy should be incorporated to
encourage proactive engagement and participation from stakeholders.
Balochistan Youth Development Commission will also be tasked with developing a
robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework. This framework will serve as a
cornerstone for systematically monitoring the implementation of the policy,
assessing progress towards its goals, and evaluating outcomes and impacts. The
commission will work to develop comprehensive indicators, benchmarks, timelines,
and reporting requirements to guide the M&E process. These indicators will
encompass key areas of youth development, including education, employment,
health, social welfare, and civic engagement, providing a holistic view of progress.
Benchmarks will establish measurable targets to track performance, while timelines
will ensure timely assessments and adjustments as needed. The Balochistan Youth
Development Commission in consultation with the Sports and Youth Affairs
Department of Balochistan will establish mechanisms to facilitate transparent
communication of findings and recommendations to stakeholders, policymakers,
and the public. Through the establishment of a rigorous M&E framework, the
Balochistan Youth Development Commission will enable evidence-based decision-
making, foster accountability, and drive continuous improvement in youth
development initiatives across the province.

41
5.2.2 Inter-Departmental
Coordination Committee on Youth
Development
The Inter-departmental Working Group on Youth Development will be established
through a summary to improve and consolidate communication and operational
links between intersecting government departments working on various aspects of
youth development. This working group will comprise of provincial Administrative
Secretaries and headed by the Chief Secretary of Balochistan.

The composition will be as follows:

Chief Secretary - (Chairperson)

Additional Chief Secretary Development P&D Department (Member)
Additional Chief Secretary Home &Tribal Affairs Department (Member)
Administrative Secretaries of all Department (Member)
Director Youth Affairs (Secretary of the Committee)

Inter-departmental consultation will ensure alignment of efforts, maximize resource

utilization and avoid duplication of services. Furthermore, the inter-departmental
consultation will contribute to the sharing of expertise, best practices, and
resources, facilitating a holistic and integrated approach to youth development.
Each related department can contribute its specialized knowledge and resources
towards achieving the policy objectives, including education, social cohesion, youth
capacity strengthening, or employment.

5.2.3 Department of Sports and

Youth Affairs
The Sports and Youth Affairs Department has a separate and dedicated Youth
Affairs Directorate. It comprises both programme and administration personnel for
its smooth running. It is also the fulcrum of implementing policies, plans and
actions and building multi­sectoral alliances for youth empowerment. Within the
framework of the Yout1h Policy, the Directorate would seek the vision to the
empowerment of youth in the social, economic and political spheres. It would assist
public sector institutions, civil society organizations and corporate entities to
increase efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness to the development needs of
youth in the province.

42
A key task of the Directorate would be to enroll all youth groups and organizations
working in the province under set criteria. It would also host an Information System
for Youth Development and a Job Database for job opportunities -for the youth.
The Department will further work on establishing the District Youth Development
Committee (DYDC) comprising youth councilors, youth activists, and relevant
departments/ stakeholders to ensure youth participation in the province with the
help of youth from community organizations and local administration. The
designated District Youth Affairs Officer will lead the DYDC.

The Sports and Youth Affairs Department has a separate and dedicated Youth
Affairs Directorate. It comprises both programme and administration personnel for
its smooth running. It is also the fulcrum of implementing policies, plans and
actions and building multi­sectoral alliances for youth empowerment. Within the
framework of the Yout1h Policy, the Directorate would seek the vision to the
empowerment of youth in the social, economic and political spheres. It would assist
public sector institutions, civil society organizations and corporate entities to
increase efficiency, effectiveness and responsiveness to the development needs of
youth in the province. A key task of the Directorate would be to enroll all youth
groups and organizations working in the province under set criteria. It would also
host an Information System for Youth Development and a Job Database for job
opportunities -for the youth. The Department will further work on establishing the
District Youth Development Committee (DYDC) comprising youth councilors, youth
activists, and relevant departments/ stakeholders to ensure youth participation in
the province with the help of youth from community organizations and local
administration. The designated District Youth Affairs Officer will lead the DYDC.
The Department will ensure coordination, transparency, economy of resources and
government-youth liaison. It will also promote the sustainability of youth-led
initiatives and will further work on establishing Youth Councils at the district and
Union Council reveals to ensure youth participation in the province in collaboration
with community organizations and local administration.

Moreover, an internal accountability mechanism, Monitoring and Performance Audit

Cell (M&PAC) will be established in the Directorate of Youth Affairs to monitor the
performance of all the institutions/units/bodies at the directorate, divisional and
district levels. This accountability mechanism will be clearly defined and approved
by the Balochistan Youth Development Commission in its first meeting.

43
5.2.4 Youth Policy Planning and
Implementation Unit
A dedicated unit responsible for evaluating policy, devising strategies, collecting
and analysing data, and monitoring and assisting implementation of the youth
policy will shape and align various policy initiatives according to the needs of the
province’s youth. YPPIU will provide systematic planning and implementation advice
to the Sports and Youth Affairs Department by generating reports on the basis of
data and evidence. The unit will be headed by the Additional Secretary of the
department and shall comprise of four sections – Information Technology, Media
and Communication, Entrepreneurship, Governance and Policy. All these sections
will be headed by the experts to be hired from the open market on competitive
salary packages. YPPIU and its relevant rules and regulations will be established
through the legislative process.

44
Chapter 7
Budget Allocation,
Review and Revision

45
7.1 Budget and Resource
Allocation
The provincial government shall provide sufficient financial resources, personnel,
infrastructure, and other required resources for the effective implementation of the
Balochistan Youth Policy. Through efficient resource allocation, and budgeting the
government of Balochistan ensures the effective implementation and achievement
of its objectives. This requires a thorough assessment of various aspects required
to support the policy's initiatives. Adequate financial resources need to be
allocated to fund a wide array of youth-focused programs, services, and
infrastructure projects spanning across education, employment, healthcare,
recreation, and social services sectors. Moreover, it is essential to prioritize the
recruitment, training, and retention of highly qualified personnel who are
instrumental in delivering tailored youth-related services and support. Additionally,
investments in infrastructure are critical to establishing accessible and inclusive
spaces for youth development activities, such as the establishment of district-level
Youth Resource Centers, Youth Peer Groups, vocational training and recreational
facilities. Furthermore, leveraging other resources, such as technology, research,
partnerships, and advocacy efforts, shall significantly enhance the impact and
reach of the policy's initiatives. By strategically allocating resources and ensuring
their efficient utilization, Balochistan can effectively address the diverse needs and
aspirations of its youth population, thereby fostering their holistic development,
socio-economic empowerment, and active participation in the province's progress
and prosperity.

7.2 Review and Revision

The review and revision of the Balochistan Youth Policy is a continuous process for
improvement, aimed at ensuring the continual relevance, effectiveness, and
alignment of the policy with the evolving needs and aspirations of the youth of
Balochistan. This process involves a comprehensive evaluation of the policy's
impact, identification of areas for improvement, and integration of new evidence
and feedback from stakeholders.
The review and revision of the policy will be conducted periodically, with the
frequency determined by the Balochistan Youth Development Commission in
consultation with the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs and with relevant
stakeholders. Major reviews will occur every three to five years, although interim
reviews may be initiated based on significant changes in circumstances or
emerging challenges.
46
Feedback from stakeholders, including youth organizations, civil society groups,
academia, and government agencies will play a crucial role in the revision process.
This feedback will be gathered by the YPPIU through surveys, consultations, focused
group discussions and other engagement mechanisms to ensure a comprehensive
understanding of youth needs, priorities, and perspectives.
Proposals for revision shall be directed to the Balochistan Youth Development
Commission through Inter Departmental Coordination Committee and the
Department of Sports & Youth Affairs. The Balochistan Youth Development
Commission will then evaluate these proposals and develop recommendations for
policy adjustments or revisions to the department.

48
References:
[1] National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) [Pakistan] and ICF. 2021. Pakistan
Demographic and Health Survey 2017-18. Islamabad, Pakistan, and Rockville,
Maryland, USA: NIPS and ICF.

[2] The Balochistan Comprehensive Development Strategy has prioritized Road and
Transport sector under which rural areas access are prioritized; it envisages
construction of 2500 km of economic corridors and improvement of shingle roads
https://www.undp.org/content/dam/pakistan/docs/PROCUREMENT/2018/July%202
018/2)%20BCDS%20Revised%20Final%20Draft%20August%2027%202013.pdf

[3] Analysis based on Labour Force Surveys by Ara, Iffat. Profile of Youth in
Balochistan.

[4]National Institute of Population Studies [Pakistan] and ICF International. 'Pakistan

Demographic and Health Survey - Key Findings.' Calverton, Maryland, USA

[5]Government of Balochistan, Planning and Development Department. Nutrition

Policy Guidance Note - Balochistan.

49