Envisages youth uplift through economic, social, political empowerment. PHOTO: ONLINE
The provincial Youth Policy 2016 was launched at Nishtar Hall on Monday where Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak was the chief guest. He was accompanied by Minister for Tourism, Youth Affairs, Culture and Heritage Mehmood Khan and representatives of donors who provided support in the formulation of the policy.
Unemployment among youths aged between 15 and 29 years, according to the policy paper, is higher in K-P as compared to other provinces. Around 5.19 million persons are employed in K-P out of the total 56.52 million persons in Pakistan.
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To meet unemployment challenges, financial resources and loans will be provided to institutions to facilitate those youths seeking self-employment.
Moreover, the microfinance sector in terms of outlets, products and access by the younger generation will be expanded with the creation of a centralised information system on job opportunities for youths in the public and private sectors.
The policy has also suggested organisations, companies and enterprises to provide internship opportunities equal to at least 5% of their sanctioned strength of officers to younger people with stipends.
Similarly, the policy suggested that all universities would provide on-campus jobs to the youths equal to at least 5% of their full-time enrolment. Also, social assistance and employment insurance programmes will be launched to cater to temporary or short-term unemployment.
To address the challenges in adolescent and youth health rights, it stated that a policy will be adopted to address holistic health needs, protection, survival and development of children and youth in the province. Moreover, men and women will be portrayed equally in all sorts of public messages, curriculums and other sorts of advertisements.
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According to the policy paper, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the employment sector for youths will be diversified.
Moreover, youths will be encouraged in the promotion of industry and local crafts through exhibitions and trade fairs in a collaborative role under the flagship of the departments concerned.
Addressing the launching ceremony of the youth policy, the K-P chief minister said party chairman Imran Khan had promised to introduce such a policy and added “today that promise has been fulfilled with the launch of the policy”.
Outlining key points of the policy, the chief minister said: “‘Jawan Markaz’ [youth centres] will be established in all divisional and district headquarters which will implement whatever has been written in the policy.”
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak also inaugurated the distributed ceremony of ‘Sehat Sahulat’ cards.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 29th, 2016.
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