Pakistan has one of the youngest populations in the world, and what happens to those young people will shape the country’s economy for decades. Youth development in Pakistan comes down to a practical question: will a growing workforce find productive work? YES Pakistan, an initiative of Al Sadat Group, approaches that question through internships, skills training, mentorship and startup support. This article looks at the problem, at what the organisation publicly lists and at how young people can use it.
What challenges do young Pakistanis face?
The Labour Force Survey 2024-25 from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics put unemployment at 7.1 per cent, the highest in 21 years. Among people aged 15 to 24, the rate was 12.9 per cent. The number of unemployed people rose from 4.5 million to 5.9 million between 2020-21 and 2024-25, while about 3.5 million people join the labour force each year. The overall rate was 6.0 per cent for men and 10.5 per cent for women, so any serious youth strategy has to include young women.
Those figures describe a gap between people ready to work and jobs on offer. A Business Recorder editorial on the survey pointed to a skills and education gap underneath it. Young people rarely close that gap alone. They need practical skills, someone experienced to ask and a first line on a CV. These are survey estimates, so treat them as a snapshot, not a verdict.
How does YES Pakistan support youth development?
The YES Pakistan website describes the following programs.
| Need | What YES Pakistan lists |
|---|---|
| Practical experience | Nine internship tracks: Business Development, Digital and Social Media Marketing, Graphic Designing, Sales, Media, Content Writing, Operations, Customer Service Representative and Web Development. |
| Skills | Hands-on skill development for educated and uneducated youth. |
| Guidance | A mentorship program linking young people with experienced professionals. |
| Leadership | Training in confidence, decision-making, problem-solving and team management. |
| Entrepreneurship | Startup support described as seed funding, business plan help, mentorship and networking. |
| Job information | A Govt. Jobs Online Portal with listings, application guidance and test preparation. |
| Community | A Youth Club/Corner for networking, panel discussions and business showcases. |
A reasonable way to use this list is to start with the need that matters most right now: experience for a first job, a skill to learn or advice on a business idea. These are program descriptions taken from the organisation’s own pages, not reported results. Confirm current availability, eligibility and funding terms with YES Pakistan before applying. Taking part does not guarantee a job or a funded startup.
How can skills lead to jobs and businesses?
Employers hire people who can show work. An internship in digital marketing or web development gives a young person something concrete: tasks completed, a supervisor who can vouch for their reliability and a clearer sense of what they enjoy. Mentorship adds someone who has already made the common mistakes. One digital skill, such as design, marketing or web basics, widens the range of jobs a graduate can reach. Practical experience also shows employers what a candidate can do, which a certificate alone cannot. A portfolio of small projects and a reference from an internship supervisor give a hiring manager something to check.
Young founders start with unglamorous steps: talk to customers, test a small offer and keep personal and business money apart. YES Pakistan’s guide, Supporting the Next Generation of Pakistani Entrepreneurs, walks through those steps and explains where funding tends to come from.
What does a more opportunity-driven future require?
No single organisation can close the gap. Schools and universities can teach through projects and track what happens to their graduates. Employers can offer structured internships and say which skills they cannot find. Mentors can give a few hours. Young people can choose one skill, build proof of work and ask for specific introductions. YES Pakistan says it works with universities, government bodies and business leaders, which is the kind of cooperation the problem needs. Digital literacy deserves particular attention, because it sits underneath almost every internship and entry-level job on the list above.
The economic case is spelled out in Turning Pakistan’s Young Population into an Economic Advantage, which argues that productive work, not population size, decides the outcome. That is analysis and recommendation, not a forecast, and none of it happens quickly.
Conclusion: Invest in Young People Patiently
Investing in youth means paying for the unglamorous parts: training, first jobs, mentors and patient funding. No program can promise employment or startup success. Progress shows up in small, checkable steps: a completed internship, a finished course, a first paying customer. If you are a student, graduate or aspiring founder, browse the YES Pakistan programs page, then register through the internship application form. Employers and mentors can use the same route to get involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is YES Pakistan?
Youth Excellence Solidarity (YES) Pakistan is an initiative of Al Sadat Group. Its website states a mission of supporting young people with skills, mentorship, internships and funding.
Which internships does YES Pakistan list?
Its programs page lists nine tracks: Business Development, Digital and Social Media Marketing, Graphic Designing, Sales, Media, Content Writing, Operations, Customer Service Representative and Web Development.
Does YES Pakistan guarantee jobs or startup funding?
No program can guarantee employment or startup success. Applicants should confirm current availability, eligibility and terms directly with YES Pakistan before applying.