PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has initiated the Accelerated Skills Development Programme for merged areas at a cost of Rs1.4 billion to create job opportunities for the region’s youth.

A statement issued here said the programme had been designed by the Merged Ares Governance Project (MAGP) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and is being funded by the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID).

Under the initiative, 5,500 men, women and transgender persons (18-35 years) from the merged areas will receive free trade and occupation skills trainings, after which they will be connected to enterprises for on-job training across the country.

Speaking about the initiative, secretary industries, commerce and technical education Zulfiqar Ali Shah said, “We are mindful that the region’s youth have not had many opportunities to acquire occupational skills. The Accelerated Skills Development Programme is an effort to bridge that gap.”

Special assistant to chief minister on industries, Abdul Karim Khan said, “The government aims to introduce interventions that deliver market-driven solutions and boost youth’s employability as well as private sector development in the region.”

USAID Deputy Mission Director Michael Nehrbass said, “USAID has a long history of partnering with the KP government. Our goal is to assist them with designing and implementing development strategies that improve the quality of life of KP residents, particularly the merged areas.”

UNDP MAGP Manager Raluca Eddon emphasised that the scheme would strengthen the women labour force in the merged areas, which remains one of the lowest in the country. “The scheme is of crucial value as it will facilitate women and other marginalised groups in accessing opportunities to acquire skills,” she added.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2022