Unlocking the potential of Pakistan’s youth through the transformative Roshan Kal internship program
On its 76th Independence Day, Pakistan stands at a crucial juncture where nurturing the capabilities of its young citizens is paramount for the country’s future progress. With a staggering population size making it the fifth-largest country globally and approximately 64% of its citizens under the age of 30, Pakistan possesses a unique demographic dividend that can either be a catalyst for growth or a challenge to overcome.
The bigger challenge is that only 6% of this population get higher education according to Pakistan’s National Human Development Report, and only 4% actively pursue employment. Still, they lack the necessary skills to land their dream jobs.
Sarah Hassan, Senior Director of Human Resources at PepsiCo Pakistan is cognizant of the issues the youth is presently facing despite their immense talent. As part of her work and overseeing the function of job creation and hiring resources, she wanted to create more opportunities for the youth of Pakistan in the corporate sector and build a future talent pipeline for the company while emboldening the youth.
“Pakistan boasts one of the world’s youngest populations, presenting a dual landscape of challenges and opportunities as its youth strives to enter the job market. The surge in job seekers can strain existing employment avenues, leading to potential unemployment and the challenges that come from this situation,” she says. Lack of skills development and job preparedness are two key factors that diminish options for youth, taking away opportunities and creating a gap in what employers want and what prospective employees can offer.
To bridge this gap, PepsiCo Pakistan spearheaded the launch of Roshan Kal, a nationwide internship program that aimed to create learning opportunities for the youth of Pakistan, opening avenues for future employment. Originally conceived as Pakistan’s first and largest online internship program during the COVID-19 pandemic, Roshan Kal has reached new heights through a coalition of 18 private sector companies in its newest iteration in 2023.
The evolution of Roshan Kal for Pakistan
This nationwide initiative aims to provide comprehensive internships to students regardless of where they are, combining a hybrid approach to foster inclusion and diversity. The program's name, "Roshan Kal," translates to "Bright Future," a reflection of the collective vision to equip Pakistan's youth with the tools they need to shine in their professional journeys.
Sarah adds, “Addressing skills mismatches, improving education quality, and diversifying industries are vital challenges. However, there are also promising prospects. Pakistan’s youth can drive innovation, embrace technological advancements, and invigorate entrepreneurship. With the right support in education reform, skills development, and industry-wide collaboration, we can unlock the potential of our youth, fostering economic growth and transformation.”
Roshan Kal is the most fitting answer.
The Genesis and Motivation Behind Roshan Kal
Roshan Kal Internship Program emerged from a vision of collaboration and collective action. Recognizing the multifaceted challenges faced by Pakistani youth, the HR team at PepsiCo Sarah Hassan, HR Director and Ammara Javaid, Head of Talent Acquisition pitched this idea to companies across the industry. This transformed Roshan Kal into a coalition of private sector companies that share a commitment to youth empowerment, skill development, and inclusive opportunities. Roshan Kal was reborn, bigger and better than its original launch in 2020.
Ammara states that once the program was championed by Furqan Ahmed Syed, CEO of PepsiCo Pakistan, her team started identifying possible partners to maximize the program’s reach and effectiveness. It is a unique model that foregoes exclusivity and shares internship structuring, data, and quality assessment metrics across the coalition for a uniform learning experience for all interns, regardless of which company they are interning at.
To further excite and challenge the Roshan Kal interns, the coalition headed by PepsiCo includes companies like Servis Group, Rozee.pk, Lucky Core Industries, Hum TV Network, KFC, Punjab Beverages Company, Pakistan Beverages Limited and Daraz among others.
Each organization within the coalition contributes its unique expertise, resources, and networks to the youth development program. By pooling together collective strengths, the Roshan Kal coalition ensures a holistic and well-rounded approach to addressing the diverse needs of the youth.
Punjab Beverages Company, for example, not only organized an interactive session for their Roshan Kal interns featuring a plant visit and meet-up with mentors, but they also organized an engagement session in which the interns were introduced to special guests from SOS Children’s Village. This paired best business practices with philanthropy. KFC organized an informative session with their General Manager Digital Solutions Syed Zeeshan Ali who took a deep dive into data and analytics to drive business excellence and taught the interns real case studies to solve business problems by leveraging data. At PepsiCo, in addition to regular engagement and learning sessions with assigned line managers across the company’s functions, interns were invited for an interactive mentorship session with Furqan Ahmed Syed which focused on identifying and optimizing personal and professional development opportunities.
Furqan Ahmed Syed, CEO PepsiCo Pakistan, leads a hybrid interactive session with Roshan Kal interns at Pakistan with Ammara Javaid, Head of Talent Acquisition
The application process for Roshan Kal interns was streamlined through Pakistan’s premium job site Rozee.pk through a dedicated portal with a smooth candidate experience. They are leveraging this opportunity to share notes and learn from each other, and this brings together students who have attended private and public universities. Breaking down barriers in this manner is another game-changing aspect of Roshan Kal.
Ammara sees this internship going from strength to strength, gaining momentum in the future to reach even more students.
“Roshan Kal now is a youth movement focusing on youth skill development. Our vision for the future is to reach every graduating student of Pakistan because every student matters,” she adds.
Roshan Kal interns after an intensive learning experience at the PepsiCo Snacks Manufacturing Plant in Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore
A Beacon of Gender Equity and Inclusion
Gender equity stands as a pivotal facet of the Roshan Kal Internship Program. Historically, females in Pakistan have encountered barriers in accessing opportunities, and breaking down gender-based stereotypes remains a challenge. To address this disparity, Roshan Kal actively champions gender equity, offering equal prospects for both female and male students. By doing so, the program emboldens young women to pursue their aspirations, challenge societal norms, and contribute unique perspectives across various domains.
Diversified professional learning opportunities for young women in Roshan Kal
Moreover, the program's hybrid model fosters inclusivity by intentionally extending opportunities to students from all corners of Pakistan. This ensures that talent knows no geographic limits and that every student, regardless of their origin, are given opportunities to excel and grow. In this way, Roshan Kal embraces the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, acknowledging that students come from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. What truly sets them apart is their passion, motivation, and desire to succeed.
What Lies Ahead
As Pakistan's youth population seeks to chart its course in the professional world, initiatives like the Roshan Kal Internship Program become vital cornerstones for progress. With a focus on upskilling, empowerment, and inclusion, Roshan Kal aims to shape a brighter future for Pakistan by harnessing the untapped potential of the country’s youth. By leveraging a coalition of private sector companies, the program doesn't just offer internships; it offers a pathway to transformation and a Roshan Kal – a truly bright future.