What the National Assembly was told
A university mandatory internship requirement is in place across Pakistan so that students gain practical experience and better chances of finding work, Parliamentary Secretary for Federal Education and Professional Training Rabia Naseem Farooqi told the National Assembly on Monday.
Answering questions during Question Hour, she said the country has 282 universities, covering both public and private institutions. She told the House that the university mandatory internship rule was introduced in 2023 and that three academic credit hours have been set aside for internships that match students’ degree programmes.
How the policy is being applied
Farooqi said the Higher Education Commission (HEC)—the federal body that regulates universities—is ensuring the requirement is carried out on campuses. The internship work is meant to sit alongside formal study rather than replace it, through those allocated credit hours.
In a supplementary reply, she also pointed to wider progress by Pakistani universities in different fields, framing the internship push as part of a broader effort to connect classroom learning with the labour market.
Youth Development Centres and job links
She told the House that the government has set up Youth Development Centres at universities on the directives of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The centres, she said, give academic and career guidance so students can learn about job openings and what employers expect.
According to Farooqi, the centres also help students meet industry representatives, understand workplace expectations, and make more informed career choices. She said the aim is to tighten the link between universities and the job market so graduates can move more easily from study into employment, and that the government is prioritising steps that promote youth employment.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ki universities mein internship ab lazmi hai, taake students ko practical tajurba mile. Ye qaidah 2023 mein shuru hua, aur 282 public o private universities is ke daire mein hain. Har student ke degree programme se milti-julti internship ke liye teen academic credit hours rakhe gaye hain. Youth Development Centres career guidance aur industry se rabta bhi dete hain, taake degree ke baad naukri dhundna aasan ho.
