PESHAWAR: A group of 94 youths from four merged tribal districts have successfully completed three-month trade training.

The event was organised by the Sarhad Rural Support Programme in collaboration with KfW Germany under the ‘Reintegration and Rehabilitation of TDPs in Fata’ programme.

The youth from Khyber, Orakzai, North Waziristan and Orakzai districts were trained in multiple trades like motorcycle mechanic, plumbing, electrical installation, and auto-mechanic.

The certificate distribution ceremony was held at the Technical and Vocational Centre (TVC), where adviser to the chief minister on industries Abdul Karim was the chief guest.

Mr Karim said the government was committed to mainstreaming tribal districts.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan wants tribal districts to be equipped with all facilities. The establishment of hospitals and schools there are top priorities of the government,” he said.

The adviser said industries would be established in tribal districts.

“We will require skilled people to cope with the situation. I appreciate the SRSP for supplementing the government’s efforts to produce skilled labour in the country,” he said.

Mr Karim said the government was establishing an industrial estate in Mohmand tribal district. “Many youths among you will get jobs in the industrial estate,” he said.

Earlier, SRSP chief executive officer Masoodul Mulk highlighted the working of the organisation.

He said the SRSP was already working in the tribal district in line with the vision of the government.

“We are working at grassroots levels in all tribal districts. We always take the local communities into confidence before executing projects,” he said.

SRSP manager (training) Bilal Yar said the organisation had trained 30,000 youth under the programme.

Sajjad Hussain from Kurram tribal district praised the SRSP for arranging the training programme and said he would establish own business.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2019