Some 700 youngsters from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including 375 women, learnt critical market-driven vocational and technical skills through a three-month-long training programme that had been supported by the government of Japan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP).
The training programme was designed to empower youth from the Kurram and Orakzai erstwhile tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The programme's closing ceremony was held in Islamabad earlier in the week to mark its successful completion.
During the programme, the youth were equipped with skills such as cell phone repair, LED bulb assembly, eco-friendly packaging, jewellery-making, motorcycle repair, electrical works, plumbing, solar system installation and maintenance, and installing universal power supply (UPS) systems. Upon completion of the programme, the graduates received certificates and customised toolkits to help them apply their skills and start small businesses or secure employment opportunities.
The initiative is part of an ongoing project worth $4.1 million and is supported by the government of Japan and UNDP. It aims to stabilise and help revive economic recovery in Kurram and Orakzai districts through a people- and institution-centred approach. Focusing on social cohesion, local governance, and livelihood creation, the project places youth and women at its core as key agents of change and is expected to benefit over 200,000 people, including 50% of women.
Speaking at the occasion, Rana Mashood, the chairman of Prime Minister's Youth Programme, said: "Women's empowerment is a key focus of Prime Minister's Youth Programme. I am delighted to see that 375 women have been trained in hands-on skills under this initiative."
He expressed gratitude to the Japanese government, the UNDP and SRSP for contributing to the skills training programme in remote areas.
UNDP Pakistan Deputy Resident Representative Van Nguyen expressed gratitude for the collaboration and said: "We are grateful to the government of Japan for their long-standing partnership with UNDP. Through their support, this programme has demonstrated the potential of young people in Kurram and Orakzai."
He added that by empowering young women and men with skills for income generation, they were confident that this project would foster gender-sensitive economic recovery in the region and contribute to its long-term stability.
Japanese Embassy's Charge d' Affaires ad interim Ito Takeshi, stated, "The long-standing partnership between Japan and UNDP has enabled us to support projects that build strong communities and bring positive change. Our key initiatives have focused on creating safe spaces for women to engage in community decision-making and access economic opportunities. Through these interventions, we have enabled women to take on more active roles contributing to social cohesion and economic stability. Our development partnership is based on the principle of 'Leave No One Behind'".
Climate adaption dialogue
As part of a broader effort to develop youth leadership, empower young women, and generate actionable strategies to build climate resilience, youth from Kurram and Orakzai also participated in a grand dialogue on "Climate Adaptation and Girls' Education" during the closing ceremony.