In a strategic move to harness the potential of the Pakistani diaspora, the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and the Pakistan Mission to the UN, launched the PIVOT programme that would connect overseas youth to the country’s development.
“We are not merely launching a programme –We are renewing a relationship-between Pakistan and a generation of Pakistanis whose lives span countries, cultures and possibilities, but whose hearts remain connected to home,” the Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, said at the launching ceremony in New York on Thursday.
The initiative’s theme was ‘From Connection to Contribution,’ with Rana Mashhood highlighting that it brings together Pakistan’s global youth community “in a spirit of dialogue, connection and shared purpose.”
Thursday’s event was attended by young Pakistani professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers, students and community leaders from across the United States, who expressed strong interest in supporting Pakistan’s youth through mentorship, collaboration and knowledge exchange under the PIVOT platform.
Describing overseas Pakistanis as a “living bridge between Pakistan and the future,” Rana Mashhood said they possess a unique understanding of both Pakistan’s aspirations and the world’s institutions, technologies and opportunities.
He emphasized that PIVOT was created to connect the immense talent of young Pakistanis at home with the knowledge, networks and experience of the diaspora.
“PIVOT is not about charity; it is about partnership. It is not about looking back with nostalgia, but looking forward with purpose,” he said, adding that the initiative would help transform goodwill into lasting national impact by encouraging overseas Pakistanis to mentor students, create internships, share expertise and support youth-led innovation.
The Chairman underscored the Government’s commitment to youth empowerment under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif through initiatives in education, employment, engagement and environment.
He noted that the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme is expanding access to digital skills, entrepreneurship financing, scholarships, employment opportunities through the Prime Minister’s Digital Youth Hub, innovation, sports, volunteerism and climate action.
He also underscored the importance of connecting Pakistani youth with global institutions, particularly the United Nations, through initiatives such as Pakistan’s UN Youth Delegate Programme, enabling young Pakistanis to contribute to international discussions on technology, sustainable development, climate action, entrepreneurship and peace.
Welcoming the participants, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, said Pakistan’s youth and its global diaspora together constitute an extraordinary reservoir of talent, innovation and expertise. He noted that building stronger connections between these communities would create new opportunities for mentorship, entrepreneurship, learning and national development.
The Pakistani envoy commended the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme for placing young people at the centre of Pakistan’s development agenda and welcomed the launch of PIVOT as an important initiative to transform diaspora goodwill, professional expertise and global networks into structured partnerships benefiting Pakistan’s youth.
He reaffirmed the Pakistan Mission’s commitment to strengthening youth engagement with the United Nations, emphasizing that young Pakistanis should participate in global policymaking not merely as observers but as informed, confident and constructive contributors.
Introducing PIVOT, Bisma Qamar, Focal Person UN and global youth affairs at PMYP said that PIVOT is a social enterprise dedicated to empowering youth by unlocking their true potential.
She said that the initiative aims to institutionalize engagement by bridging the gap between talent and opportunities through experiential learning, transformative education, mentorship, and global engagement turning potential to performance – with a focus on diaspora connectivity.
The launch of PIVOT marks another significant milestone in the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme’s efforts to harness the potential of Pakistan’s global youth community and strengthen their contribution to the country’s sustainable development and future prosperity.
Ms. Qamar, focal person to PMYP on education and youth development, gave an overview of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, whereas Counsellor Saima Saleem moderated the event.
A documentary showcasing the various initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme was also shown on the occasion.