PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Thursday declared youth the nation’s most valuable asset and said creating employment opportunities for them was imperative for national progress and self-reliance.

“The Ehsaas Hunar Programme is a crucial part of our efforts to empower youth of the province,” Mr Gandapur told the launch event for four youth training and livelihood initiatives here at the Chief Minister’s House.

The projects included the Rs4 billion Ehsaas Hunar Programme, Rs11.4 billion Rural Economic Transformation Project, upgradation of technical educational institutes, and an on-job training programme for Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (Tevta) graduates.

The participants included the provincial cabinet members, deputy speaker of the provincial assembly, members of the provincial assembly, government officials, and selected beneficiaries.

Launches youth training, livelihood projects

The chief minister said technical education was largely neglected in the past, leaving many graduates with degrees that lacked international recognition, according to an official statement.

He said that the provincial government was focusing on the provision of internationally accredited certifications to youth, who should benefit from them.

Mr Gandapur said that the government couldn’t offer everyone jobs, so it was committed to creating employment opportunities for them in the private sector.

“Due to our government’s efforts, the province’s revenue has increased by 44 per cent. This additional income will be reinvested in our youth’s development,” he said.

The chief minister said the government won’t pass on the deprivation the current generation endured to the next one.

He said hard work was the key to success, with no substitute for it.

Mr Gandapur urged youth to create employment opportunities for themselves to contribute to national development.

Special assistant to the chief minister on technical education Tufail Anjum said the government was committed to youth skill development and empowerment in the province.

According to the official statement, the Ehsaas Hunar Programme to be implemented through Akhuwat Microfinance aims to provide interest-free loans up to Rs500,000 to skilled youth for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The KP government has allocated Rs2 billion for this initiative in the current fiscal year with more than 35,000 skilled youth expected to benefit from it.

The Rs11.4 billion Rural Economic Transformation Project, launched in collaboration with the support of IFAD and European Union, will offer free technical and vocational training to 60,000 youth males and females from rural areas, according to the statement.

It added that financial assistance averaging $300 per person would be provided to 42,000 skilled individuals to promote self-employment. It will also facilitate internships and employment for 25,000 Tevta graduates.

According to the statement, technical and vocational educational institutions will be funded by GIZ-European Union.

“Under the initiative, two Government Colleges of Technology in Nowshera and Abbottabad will be upgraded to the status of Centers of Excellence. Also, 22 technical institutions across the province would be upgraded into model institutes, and nine other institutes were selected to offer DAE Level-5 certifications.”

According to the statement, an on-job training programme for Tevta graduates has been launched with investment of Rs177 million.

Under this programme over 3,000 graduates will be placed in the selected industries for internships in a phased manner. In the first phase, 168 students will be offered three-month internships, each receiving a monthly stipend of Rs15,000. The cost of the first phase is estimated to be Rs7.56 million.

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2024