NEWYORK: Prime minister’s youth programme (PMYP), in collaboration with the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, launched PIVOT program at a youth diaspora gathering titled “From Connection to Contribution: Pakistani Youth Diaspora Connect” at the Pakistan Mission in New York.
The initiative aims to create a structured platform for connecting Pakistan’s global youth diaspora with young people in Pakistan through mentorship, knowledge sharing, professional networking, innovation and opportunities in education, entrepreneurship and skills development.
The event brought together 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.
Addressing the gathering, chairman of the prime minister’s youth programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, said that the launch of PIVOT marked the renewal of Pakistan’s partnership with a generation of overseas Pakistanis whose “lives span countries, cultures and possibilities, but whose hearts remain connected to home.”
Describing overseas Pakistanis as a “living bridge between Pakistan and the future,” he 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.
Chairman highlighted the government’s commitment to youth empowerment under the leadership of PM Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif through initiatives in education, employment, engagement and environment. He noted that the PM’s youth programme is expanding access to digital skills, entrepreneurship financing, scholarships, employment opportunities through the PM’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.
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 Permanent Representative commended the PM’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 Permanent 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, Focal Person UN and global youth affairs at PMYP Ms. Bisma Qamar 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 PM’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.
Focal person to PMYP on education and youth development Sidra Qamar gave an overview of the PM’s youth programme, whereas Counsellor Saima Saleem moderated the event. documentary showcasing the various initiatives under the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme was also shown on the occasion.
