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Thursday, November 28, 2013

EU-funded projects in Pakistan showcased

* EU exhibits projects for improving employment skills of young
Pakistanis

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: An exhibition on Wednesday showcased a series of EU-funded interventions in Pakistan that are working to improve the skills of the poor and help them find employment.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Dirk Meganck, Director for Asia in the Directorate General of the European Commission responsible for Development Cooperation (EuropeAid). Speaking to a participant in the audience, including EU heads of missions, UN agencies, government and civil society, Meganck emphasised that in Europe, as in Pakistan, there is growing recognition that technical and vocational skills are critical to “help people find meaningful jobs, stimulate economic activity and increase the country’s competitiveness”.

Meganck hailed the projects showcased at the exhibition, which are working all over Pakistan, from remote impoverished villages to bustling cities to help, in particular, young people achieve accredited certification in a whole range of trades and industries where there is a demand for qualified labour. Some of the men and women, including those disabled or from marginalised groups, that are benefiting from these projects are looking to develop viable home industries, while others are seeking to improve their chances of finding employment, or even setting up their own business.

By participating in these innovative vocational and technical training courses, all of them are hoping to find work that will earn them a steady income. “Projections show that by 2050 Pakistan’s working-age population will be twice the size it is today, which is why it is critical for the country’s stability that young people are provided with employable skills suited to the needs of the modern economy,” he said, noting that Pakistan’s people are its greatest asset and the demographic dividend can produce a virtuous cycle of growth.

The EU, which is the second largest provider of development aid in the world, decided in 2011 that it would devote much of this aid to help reduce poverty, the director explained, because “fighting poverty is key to ensuring a more stable and prosperous world”.

Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk

 

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