Pakistan, Oct. 9 -- Pakistan's youth challenge is not only about unemployment. It is about building reliable pathways from education and skills to decent work and productive participation.

Pakistan's youthful population offers considerable potential for economic growth, innovation and social development. However, this potential cannot be realised simply by increasing school enrolment, university admissions or vocational training opportunities. Young people must also be able to transition into productive employment, further education or relevant skills development.

The challenge is captured by the term NEET: young people who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training. Unlike the conventional unemployment rate, the NEET indicator inclu...