Programme for training and employment launched in KP

PESHAWAR: Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah on Tuesday formally launched the “Programme for Training and Employment” under which targetted youth would be imparted with market-based training and skills in the various potential fields.

A ceremony to this effect was held at the Chief Minister’s House, said a handout.

In the first phase of the programme, more than 100,000 youth across the province, would be trained and placed in the targeted local and international markets; Crash Courses in IT, Nursing, Paramedics and other sectors would be arranged and for this purpose, a number of MoUs have also been signed between the various provincial departments and relevant institutions.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that unemployment has been a longstanding problem in this country; it was always painful to see our youth unemployed and jobless. That’s why after taking responsibilities as the caretaker chief minister, he has decided to do something better for the youth of this province, he said. He added that the newly launched Training and Employment Programme is the practical demonstration of that vision.

“Although the caretaker government’s mandate and tenure is relatively limited, our first responsibility is to extend support to the Election Commission for holding general elections in a peaceful and transparent manner,” he said. He added that the caretaker provincial government would take all possible measures to this effect. However, the chief minister said that his government is also trying its best to do something better for the wellbeing of the people.

He made it clear that the ultimate target of the Training and Employment program is to send at least 500,000 youth abroad for employment by imparting them market-based skills and training.

Earlier, as many as seven MoUs were signed between various departments of the provincial government and relevant institutions.

The Institute of Management Sciences Peshawar signed two different MoUs with the department of youth Affairs and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa IT Board. Similarly, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) signed two MoUs, one with Higher Education department and other with the

Accelerated Skills Development Program.

An MoU was also signed between KP IT Board and Small Industries Development Board (SIDB). Apart from this, Comsats and Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences have also signed MoUs with the Directorate of Youth Affairs and KP IT Board, respectively.