Punjab Budget 2026-27: CM Skilled Programmes, Parwaaz Card, PICAL, AI Training to boost Jobs, Skills
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
LAHORE – Punjab government unveiled skills development and entrepreneurship agenda under its Annual Development Programme (ADP) 2025-26 to equip hundreds of thousands of young people with market-relevant skills and create new employment opportunities across traditional and emerging sectors. The initiatives includes digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and overseas employment, reflecting a comprehensive strategy to transform Punjab’s workforce and strengthen the province’s economy. CM Skilled Punjab Programme has been allocated Rs44 billion and is expected to benefit around 122,000 youth. The programme aims to provide technical and vocational training aligned with industry needs while improving employability and workforce participation. In addition, Chief Minister Skills Development Programme will train 5,000 individuals over a 30-month period through specialized skills development interventions. The provincial government is also placing emphasis on strengthening technical and vocational education institutions. Through TEVTA and other training bodies, skills mapping exercises will be conducted to align training programmes with domestic and international labor market requirements. New CM Skills Centres and hospitality laboratories are also planned to modernize training infrastructure and improve the quality of vocational education. Under Advance Technology Program-II, approximately 7,500 youth will receive training in cutting-edge fields including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, and emerging digital technologies. Officials believe these investments will help prepare young people for the rapidly evolving global technology market and improve Punjab’s competitiveness in high-value digital sectors. Punjab also expanded its investment in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Through BPO Program-II, around 10,000 young people will be trained in customer services and business pr