64% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30. This “youth bulge” holds immense promise if equipped with the right skills. In this episode, Ahmed Khan and Saba Shahid discuss how Pakistan can turn its growing youth population into a productive economic force. They discuss how PSDF is addressing this challenge through industry aligned, digitally delivered and outcome focused training programs across urban and rural locations in the country. They shed light on initiatives taken by PSDF for women, the transgnder community and other marginalized groups aiming to improve job opportunities at the grassroot level.
Saba Shahid is currently the Manager of R&D and Partnerships at the LUMS Centre for Entrepreneurship. She is a development economist and specializes in policy advocacy on sustainable development and local-led development solutions. Saba has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, partnership building, and designing capacity-building programs within Pakistan’s entrepreneurial and policy eco-systems.
Ahmed Khan is one of the pioneers of e-commerce in Pakistan, with over two decades of leadership experience across technology, logistics, and public sector organizations. He is currently the CEO of Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF), Pakistan’s largest skills development organization. Previously, Ahmed founded and led Cheetay.pk and Swyft Logistics, transforming them into Pakistan’s leading logistics and fulfillment platforms.