KARACHI, Jan 17: Shell Pakistan, on Friday, launched a programme, Tameer, to promote self-employment among the youth by helping develop skills for planning, launching and managing new business enterprises.

The company’s External Affairs Director, Saleemuddin Ahmed, told newsmen that the programme was meant to help young people start business which would create new job opportunities for the people.

Shell International and its local chapter, set up Rs15 million fund for the programme which is an adaptation of the Sustainable Development Programme of The Shell Foundation. It has been launched as pilot project, and on successful working of one year, it will be continued.

He said the oil giant signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), to provide training and assistance to IBA graduates. For those with less qualifications, it was working with the Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), he said.

An awareness campaign would be launched to make it accessible to rural and urban areas of the country, and training workshops would be held in 10 districts. Initially, 2000 youth, aged between 18 and 32 years, would be scrutinised and 400 of them would be imparted training in this regard, he said.—PPI