The UN Refugee Council (UNHCR) and the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) launched a skills development programme on Friday to empower Pakistani and Afghan refugee youth across Pakistan. The pilot project costing Rs 30 million (USD 300,000) will train over 700 young people up to the age of 25 years old in all four provinces over the next three months.
Based on a skills survey for Pakistan and Afghanistan, various trades and professions will be taught at technical and vocational centres in refugee-populated districts of the country.
Vocational training will be offered to young women and men including beauticians, tailors, plumbers, electricians, stone masons and fridge, mobile phone and solar panel repair technicians. The launching ceremony was held at the Advanced Government Technical Training Center in Peshawar, which was attended by the Federal Secretary SAFRON, Arbab Shahzad, UNHCR Representative for Pakistan, Indrika Ratwatte, Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Dr Imran Zeb and Yakub Mahsud, chief Co-ordinator Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) Secretariat.
Indrika Ratwatte emphasised the need to recognise and build on young people's capacities and the valuable contributions they are already making to their family and community's wellbeing.
Federal Secretary SAFRON, Arbab Shahzad, said such projects have strong impact on peaceful co-existence with communities. These courses will enable Afghan and Pakistani youth to create livelihoods for themselves and secure gainful employment.
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