Pakistan’s rising unemployment should ring alarm bells for policymakers. When the jobless rate climbs from 6.2 per cent in 2020-21 to 7.1 per cent in 2024-25, it signals more than a weak economy. It shows that opportunities are shrinking for millions of young people entering the labour market every year. These concerns were raised in the Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, chaired by Senator Shahadat Awan. Lawmakers questioned the government about rising unemployment, heavy taxation on exports, growing brain drain and the lack of new development projects in the coming budget. Their questions reflect a wider worry shared across the country: where will the next generation find jobs?
One of the most worrying revelations is that the Ministry of Planning has proposed no new projects under the Public Sector Development Programme for the financial year 2026-27. Development spending is meant to create infrastructure, stimulate economic activity and generate employment. Without new projects, the government risks slowing growth at a time when the country needs it most. Members of the committee also raised concerns about the proposed use of PSDP funds to purchase land for the campus of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics in Islamabad and the construction of Plan House. At a time when unemployment is rising and resources are limited, lawmakers questioned whether expanding institutions should take priority over projects that directly create jobs. Our economic problems cannot be solved by reports and meetings alone. Businesses face heavy export taxes, complicated approval procedures and uncertain policies. These barriers discourage investment and push talented people to seek opportunities abroad. The government must simplify regulations, support exporters and launch development projects that create jobs across the country.
