ISLAMABAD:A mobile-based application, ‘Hunarmand’ was launched here on Thursday that links skilled youth with employers besides enhancing work opportunities for the youth.

The mobile application is for the benefit of the larger segment of blue-collar workforce seeking employment and self-employment for short-term domestic services.

The mobile application, which was launched in Islamabad in the first phase, will be introduced in other districts later.

The application has been developed by the Punjab Youth Workforce Development project with funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) to help the youth get information on short-term employment opportunities and help employers find skilled labour and grow their companies.

The workforce development project is initially being implemented in the districts of Multan, Lodhran, Bahawalpur and Muzaffargarh.

During the three-year of implementation, the project has established partnerships with over 74 businesses and fostered linkages between the training institutes and respective industry.

Through this and other programmes in its three-year project, USAID is helping Pakistan increase employment among people under 29.So far, the project has provided technical and vocational skills to 10,000 youth, 45pc of whom were women, in the four districts of Punjab.

Launching the mobile application at a ceremony, Minister for Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood said providing the youth with technical and vocational skills and creating economic

opportunities by linking them with employers through technology would help ensure a prosperous future for them.

He urged the project management to enlarge the scope of the project and include other cities rather the whole country.

Mr Mahmood reiterated the importance of developing a gold standard qualification and certification regime to produce a highly skilled labour force for both domestic and international market.

USAID Mission Director Julie Koenen said USAID had helped 10,000 young people, including 45pc women, to complete skill development training in a variety of fields such as agriculture, livestock, manufacturing and construction.

The project helped over 8,300 youth get jobs, out of whom 42pc were women, and they have an average monthly income of Rs10,600, she explained.

The project has provided trade-specific tools to over 3,000 youth who are now self-employed, helped 1,000 youth through microfinance loans to start their small businesses, provided career counseling service to 2,000 youth, of whom 32pc were women and helped nearly 3,600 youth, 58pc women, learn socially constructive attitudes through interactive sessions.

NAVTTC Chairman Syed Javed Hassan termed the initiative an important step towards reducing mismatch between demand and supply of skilled workforce to domestic and industrial employers.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2019