Investment in youth urged for prosperity

Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) President Sardar Tahir Mehmood urged businesses, philanthropists and overseas Pakistanis to support better schooling and skills training for children in Balochistan. He argued that investment in the province's young people would strengthen Pakistan's prosperity over time. The appeal came at a programme held with Al Hijrah Schools Trust and Win Win Marketing, according to The Express Tribune.

Mehmood said Balochistan was critically important for the country and its development, and that society should give the province its fullest backing by going beyond its current level of support. He also said Pakistan, with about 250 million people, offered large openings for investment and economic partnerships. Citing a recent trip to Turkiye, he said overseas investors are taking greater interest in Pakistan, pointing to a sizeable domestic market, a large labour pool, tariff advantages and lower operating expenses.

Al Hijrah founder Abdul Kareem Saqib traced the Trust's history from its founding in Birmingham, UK, in 1988 to its work in Pakistan. The Trust was first set up to give Muslim children abroad schooling that blended Islamic values with contemporary learning. In 2001 it signed an agreement with the Balochistan government to launch its education project in the province.