ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has announced that 20,000 scholarships will be given to the unemployed graduates of the country.

Speaking at an international summit in Islamabad, the federal minister said the government was committed to educating every child of the country as it is their fundamental right. The planning minister said education is inevitable for nation’s progress and development. He also thanked the United States for their support in the higher education sector in the country. He urged the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to produce skilled labour according to the needs of the market.

He said: “In this era of Information Technology, we have to produce students according to the requirements of the market.” He said the youth development initiatives recently launched by the prime minister would help enhance skills of students across the country. Mr Iqbal also announced that under the YDI, scholarships would also be awarded to the students of far-flung areas.