The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) has launched a new initiative to promote sports among young Pakistanis, in collaboration with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and the Lahore Qalandars franchise. The Prime Minister’s Cricket Talent Hunt Programme aims to identify and train cricketing talent from across the country, with a particular focus on inclusivity and regional representation.
National collaboration to support young athletes
The initiative was formally launched in Islamabad with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between PMYP, HEC, and Lahore Qalandars. The partnership brings together government and private stakeholders in a shared effort to promote youth development through sports. It follows the earlier launch of a Boxing Talent Hunt and signals a broader commitment to combining physical education with wider opportunities in education, employment, and digital access.
Talent hunt trials across Pakistan
The Cricket Talent Hunt will kick off in Quetta on June 26–27, with trials scheduled in 25 cities. The programme is open to both boys and girls and aims to ensure a merit-based, transparent selection process. Organisers hope this model will help decentralise talent scouting, reaching young athletes from areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in national sports.
Building on proven models
Speaking at the launch, Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said the programme reflects a broader strategy to invest in youth development. CEO Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana highlighted the franchise’s experience with open trials, which have produced players such as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf. He described the new programme as a continuation of that approach, now supported by national institutions.
The PSL trophy’s recent tour to the UK and USA was also noted as part of ongoing efforts to promote a positive image of Pakistan through sport.
Voices of inspiration
National cricketer Shaheen Shah Afridi attended the event and shared his own experience of being selected through a talent hunt. “When people said Pakistan lacked talent, Lahore Qalandars proved them wrong,” he said. “With PMYP, we’re now taking that opportunity to every street and every city.”
Selected athletes will undergo further training and grooming, with exposure to both national and international platforms.
Education, training and broader youth policy
Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed emphasised that academic institutions will play a vital role in the programme. The effort is part of a wider push to link sports with education, employment, and digital inclusion — key pillars of PMYP’s broader youth strategy.
The government is also preparing to launch the Prime Minister’s National Adolescent and Youth Policy (NAYP). Built around the four “Es”— Education, Employment, Environment, and Engagement — the policy has been shaped through consultations across the country to address the needs of youth aged 10 to 29.
By integrating programmes like the Cricket Talent Hunt into this larger policy framework, PMYP is working to create a more comprehensive system for youth development, one that supports not just athletic potential but social mobility and national progress.
A step towards inclusive development
The PMYP’s recent focus on sports is part of a broader effort to engage youth and provide structured avenues for their growth. Initiatives such as the Cricket Talent Hunt serve as a bridge between aspiration and opportunity, especially for young people in underserved areas.
By combining athletic development with access to education and employment pathways, the government aims to support a generation of Pakistanis ready to contribute to the country’s future.
By integrating programmes like the Cricket Talent Hunt into this larger policy framework, PMYP is working to create a more comprehensive system for youth development, one that supports not just athletic potential but social mobility and national progress.
The writer is a digital media executive at the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme.
