K-P to launch skills initiative for youth

Khushal Pakhtunkhwa program endeavours to close the skill gap with training classes

PESHAWAR:

In a significant move to address unemployment and equip the youth with essential skills, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet convened on Tuesday to authorize various provincial departments to make use of their buildings during idle periods. This initiative is part of the ambitious Khushal Pakhtunkhwa Program, aiming to launch skill development classes for the youth. The departments involved in this effort include elementary and secondary education, technical education, industries and labor, health, and other related sectors.

The special cabinet meeting, presided over by Caretaker Chief Minister Justice (retired) Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, saw the participation of provincial ministers, the chief secretary, and administrative secretaries.

One of the key revelations during the meeting was the recent demand from South Korea for over 100,000 skilled workers. However, Pakistan could only provide 16,000 workers due to a glaring lack of a trained and skilled labor force. This disparity underscores the urgency of initiatives like the Khushal Pakhtunkhwa Program, which seeks to bridge the gap by imparting skills to the youth.

Under the program, more than 500,000 young individuals from across the province will receive training in various disciplines, including information technology, computer science, paramedics, nursing, and trade.

The overarching goal is to empower them to secure livelihoods for themselves and their families, both within the country and abroad.

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Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah, addressing the meeting, stressed the caretaker government’s dual responsibility: facilitating fair and impartial elections while also addressing the pressing issues of unemployment and poverty in the province.

Recognizing that the youth cannot be left to desperation, especially given the potential consequences of economic hardships, the chief minister expressed a sense of duty to contribute to the welfare of the people.

To ensure the effective implementation of the program, the chief minister has taken proactive steps by forming a task force comprising various ministers, secretaries, and heads of different organizations. This task force is meeting on a daily basis to expedite the program’s rollout, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

The caretaker government’s commitment to the welfare of the people extends beyond the Khushal Pakhtunkhwa Program. The provincial caretaker cabinet, during the same meeting, unanimously supported the chief minister’s stance taken in a recent meeting with the federal finance minister.

The chief minister firmly rejected proposals that sought to shift financial responsibilities, including co-financing of BISP expenditures, subsidies for agriculture tubewells and fertilizers, higher education commission expenditures, and the transfer of PSDP projects to provincial ADP.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2023.