QUETTA: The United National High Commiss­ioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has planned to promote handicrafts made by Afghan refugee artisans and facilitate skill development training through internships.

For this purpose, the head of UNHCR’s Quetta office, Erwin Policar, signed an MoU with Serena Hotel General Manager Rashid­uddin at a ceremony here on Friday.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Policar praised the hotel management for helping boost up the livelihood and skills of Afghan refugees. “Show­casing refugee artisans’ products and linking them to markets or offering internships are great examples of how the private sector can help Afghan refugees,” he said.

The UNHCR Quetta head said it was important that refugees, wherever they might be, must be given a chance to use their skills to be productive.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rashiduddin said that the aim of the hotel management’s collaboration with UNHCR was to support refugees in achieving self-reliance by providing them technical training in culinary skills, housekeeping and food and beverage services.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2021