Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Tuesday that his government has provided 36,097 government jobs to the youth within the first 18 months of its tenure. This achievement sets a record as nearly 2,000 youth are joining the government service every month. Mann addressed a function where 249 youth were handed recruitment letters for various departments. The Chief Minister emphasized that the recruitment drive has been completely merit-based, ensuring jobs are given to deserving and needy candidates. He further mentioned that no recommendations or other forms of favoritism have influenced the recruitment process. The government’s commitment to the well-being of the youth and the creation of employment opportunities were highlighted. The Chief Minister expressed pride and satisfaction in selecting candidates purely on merit. The government’s initiative aims to provide new avenues of employment and reduce the trend of Punjab’s youth seeking opportunities abroad due to a lack of job opportunities. Mann attributed this negative trend to the poor performance of previous state leaders who neglected job creation. However, his government aims to reverse this trend through a policy of reverse brain drain and opening numerous job opportunities for the youth.