Japan, UNDP launch $3.9m initiative

The agreement is aimed at empowering youth in Sindh and KP

ISLAMABAD: The government of Japan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed an agreement on Monday to launch a $3.9-million initiative aimed at empowering more than 20,000 youth in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

This initiative will help improve employment prospects and promote social cohesion through positive interactions amongst young people in deprived communities, helping them participate actively in the socio-economic development of Pakistan.



Speaking on the occasion, UNDP Pakistan Country Director Ignacio Artaza said, “The challenges posed by the youth bulge in Pakistan are immense. Almost 1.8 million jobs are required every year to absorb the growing number of young people entering the job market.”

Ambassador of Japan Takashi Kurai said, “Pakistan’s population is very young and ensuring job opportunities and income for youth is critical for development. Japan will continue to support youth and young women so that they can take the lead in development of this country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 20^th, 2018.

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