He revealed that across Pakistan, nearly 1.4 million young people have registered in the program so far, with more than 40% being women. In a major announcement, he stated that all registered students will be provided 100% free IT training courses, aimed at preparing them for the digital economy.
But behind the optimism, he painted a sobering picture. In one district alone, he said, nearly 100,000 children aged 5 to 16 are out of school many working in mechanic shops, brick kilns, or simply staying at home without access to education.
He further noted that only around 20% of the local population has completed matriculation, with female education levels falling even lower.
Expanding the scope, he claimed that across Punjab, over 10 million children are currently out of school, calling it one of the most alarming social failures of the province.
Hafiz Naeem stressed that the issue is not a lack of talent, but a lack of opportunity. ‘When you meet the youth,’ he said, ‘you don’t find a shortage of skill you find a shortage of direction.’
He also raised a serious concern about drug abuse among young people, warning that an estimated 7 to 8 million youth in Pakistan are affected by narcotics, including students in colleges and universities. He criticized what he described as a harsh contradiction in society: ‘Drugs are easily available, but education struggles to survive.’
Turning his attention to governance, he strongly criticized the Punjab government, accusing it of spending billions on advertising while ignoring ground realities. He questioned why such a large number of children remain out of school and why no effective IT or education policy is visible on the ground.
He also pointed to declining enrollment in commerce colleges, shrinking university admissions, and a lack of structured planning for the IT sector.
Despite the criticism, his message carried a tone of possibility. He argued that Pakistan’s youth nearly 60 to 80 million people under the age of 30 in Punjab alone could transform the country’s future if given the right tools.
Fields like digital marketing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Amazon freelancing, and Python programming, he said, could empower young people to even help resolve national debt challenges.
However, he added, this requires proper systems especially payment gateways and supportive state policies, which are currently missing.
He also announced that new campuses of the program will soon be launched in underserved areas, including additional centers in Sargodha, and praised female teachers for their dedication and commitment.
Concluding his speech, Hafiz Naeem delivered a striking message. ‘This is not a face problem. It is a system problem.’
He argued that over the past 78 years, successive governments have failed to provide equal access to education, justice, and healthcare. ‘The system has never treated rich, middle class, and poor children equally,’ he said, adding that most lawmakers today come from elite backgrounds disconnected from ordinary citizens.
Addressing graduates directly, he urged them to become ambassadors of change volunteering, joining social efforts, and reducing time spent on screens without purpose. ‘The country does not belong to any general, politician, or elite class,’ he said. ‘It belongs to 250 million people and its future depends on them.’
