ISLAMABAD: A total of 58,121 youth of erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), including 26,654 men and 31,467 women, have completed various skilled development training courses arranged by the FATA Development Authority (FDA).
According to an FDA official, the authority has arranged a Rs 1,118 million interest free credit facility for over 37,593 FATA youth from “Akhuwat” in order to enable them to start their own small businesses and earn a respectable income for their families.
He said that on-job training is another programme under which the youth are attached to various well-reputed organisations to gain experience in relevant fields. The main aim of imparting skilled training was to divert the attention of youngsters towards constructive activities.
He said that FDA was striving to provide more facilities to educated youth. The training courses include plumbing, pipe fitting, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) assembling, dress designing etc. He said that so far 17 institutes have been revamped and strengthened throughout FATA.
Furthermore, technical scholarships have been awarded to 19,000 students so that they may study in well known institutes of the country. This includes 22 FATA students who have recently passed out from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute (GIKI), while 39 FATA students are presently enrolled in the same institute. The graduate students have found jobs in well-reputed organisations of the country.
Meanwhile, the FDA is also planning to initiate various other skill development training courses in collaboration with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) for terrorism effected youth of North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Khyber, Orakzai, Kurram and Mohmand districts as well as attached sub divisions of Tank, DI Khan, Bannu, Lakki Mawat, Kohat and Peshawar.
These courses include mobile repairing, computer software operations like AutoCad, industrial electrician, tailoring, embroidery, knitting and quantity survey.
The six month training course feature monthly stipends, free lodging and a boarding facility.
