Top leaders from across the public and private sector gathered at a press conference organized by PSDF to discuss the future of jobs in Pakistan, in light of the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) report.
A press conference was held on Thursday to discuss the future of jobs in Pakistan in light of a recent WEF report titled ‘Future of Jobs’. Special Assistant to PM on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, along with HBL President & CEO Muhammad Aurangzeb, Engro Corporation President & CEO Ghias Khan, Telenor Pakistan CEO Irfan Wahab Khan participated.
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The ‘Future of Jobs’ report features detailed information on the prospect of jobs in 15 leading countries and 26 emerging economies in the next few decades. The Pakistan chapter showcased jobs and skills of the future, highlighting Pakistani employers’ perspectives on new job roles and skills that require attention and investment in the country in the age of technology and automation.
Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari said that the government does not only provide jobs but also governs and chalk out policies. He added that providing a better environment and generating job opportunities comes under the government’s responsibilities. At present, the market is full of young people with old skills that have little or no use today, he said. “Young people now need to learn new skills.”
Moreover, the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) that serves as the secretariat for Parwaaz — first National Accelerator on Closing the Skills Gap in Pakistan — has brought Pakistan into the global conversation on skills and the future of work by facilitating WEF with an extensive employers’ based survey conducted with over 50 top Pakistani companies and business leaders across 6 priority sectors.
The report’s insights reveal that in Pakistan, of the over 82 million working-age population, 50pc on average have requisite digital skills, 51pc have business relevant skills, and almost 55pc have acquired education with business relevance.
However, Pakistani companies are focusing on cultivating employability skills in the domain of Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Leadership, in tandem with emerging skills in the global market.
