PHOTO: REUTERS
This was stated by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Senior Minister for Tourism and Youth Affairs Atif Khan on Monday as he performed the soft-launch for the federal government’s Rs100 billion Kamyab Jawan Programme in Peshawar.
Addressing the launch ceremony at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women's University, Atif said that in addition to the federal programme, the provincial government is providing support through its Rs5 billion programme whereby loans are provided on easy instalments to help provide the youth with employment opportunities.
Of this, he said, Rs3 billion will be provided to the youth from the newly-merged tribal districts (NMTDs) and Rs2 billion for the youth of the settled districts.
Highlighting the importance of startups in creating jobs and economic activity, he said that Pakistan is one of the countries with immense potential for economic growth due to the presence of a large number of young people.
The minister added that the K-P government had provided a grant of Rs50 million during its last tenure to support the youth.
Steps were also being taken for the development of tourism in the province and now a prominent magazine had featured Pakistan as the top country to visit in 2020, said the minister.
To boost tourism in the province, Atif said that they are creating integrated tourism zones where services of international quality will be provided to tourists. Moreover, eco-tourism was being introduced to ensure sustainability in the tourism industry and for the environment.
A further Rs5 billion has been approved to build roads connecting up to 14 new tourist destinations in the province in Malakand and Hazara division.
In her address, SBBWU Peshawar’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Razia Sultana shared her views on entrepreneurship. She said that technologies create new opportunities, and startups can take advantage of these opportunities by creating massive value over mature businesses.
Startup Pakistan Focal Person Shahzad Gul said that Startup Pakistan will connect the entire startup ecosystem via a single digital platform, breaking silos, exchanging knowledge, and providing access to funding and Investment through a single frame.
Startup Pakistan, he said, is focusing on the change of culture through the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship as a career choice, engaging overseas Pakistanis in mentoring the generation next.
He said that the programme will make trainees “job providers” and not “seekers”. This programme offers funding, mentorship, training, and a variety of perks and benefits aimed at the provision of facilities to entrepreneurs, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 17th, 2019.
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