Skills development programme under RAHA concluded

Press Release

PESHAWAR, 16 May, 2017: The closing ceremony of training of the first batch of trainees of Skills Development Program (SDP) initiated under the United Nations’ Refugees Affected and Hosting Areas (RAHA) programme was held at Peshawar University on Tuesday.

The Chief Commissioner Afghan Refugees, Dr. Imran Zeb distributed certificates & toolkits among the leading trainees of all Institutes which implemented the SDP training.

The training was initiated by the Ministry of SAFRON and supported by the UN Refugee Agency. The planning and implementation was done by RAHA Secretariat & RAHA Cell in all four provinces. This SDP signifies a gesture of goodwill by Government of Pakistan and UNHCR for Afghan refugees living in Pakistan over three decades. The aim is to help prepare the Afghan youth to become responsible citizens and play a positive role in the reconstruction of their country.

A total 755 trainees from nine districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five districts of Balochistan and one each district of Sind and Punjab were trained in a three-months course which started in January 2017.

The Chief Commissioner noted that it was heartening to see the zeal and keenness displayed by Afghan refugees and their Pakistan hosts.

Mr. Indrika Ratwatte UNHCR Representative highlighted “the importance of investing in youth empowerment and building the human capital of future generations of Afghans.”

Besides the Chief Guest, Yaqub Mahsud, Chief Coordinator RAHA also attended the ceremony.