KARACHI, Jan 9: Forty thousand youths are being given training in Sindh under the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Youth Development Programme in the first phase while over 19,000 more will be given training in the second phase this year.

This was stated at a meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, held on Friday to review the progress of the youth development programme. Attended by heads of all the departments besides Additional Chief Secretary Nazar Hussain Mahar and SBBYD steering committee chairman retired Air Vice Marshal Riaz Shaikh, the participants were told that Rs3,107.46 million had been released for payment of stipends to the trainee youths and other related expenses.

At present, 5,258 youths are under training in the agriculture department, 6,000 youths in the education department, 280 in forest, 4,675 in health, 7,000 in IT, 10,000 labour, 3,200 livestock, 1,200 youths in women development and 2,000 youths are under training in the works and services departments of the Sindh government.

Of 58,684 youths planned to be trained this year, 32,864 would be given training in government departments and 25,820 would be given training in the private sector, the meeting was informed.