RISE Programme Being Implemented Rapidly to Give Youth Dignified Jobs and Market Skills: CS Balochistan
Quetta — Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan has said the RISE programme is being implemented at a fast pace to provide young people with dignified employment and market-based skills.
Presiding over a high-level meeting on the programme, he said the provincial government’s top priority was public welfare, economic self-reliance and a better standard of living. He added that comprehensive steps were being taken to create jobs, develop youth potential and equip them with modern technical and vocational training. All available resources, he said, would be used to take the benefits of development to people’s doorstep.
Officials briefed the meeting that RISE covers six districts: Panjgur, Kharan, Washuk, Gwadar, Awaran and Kech. The plan includes setting up 57,464 micro-enterprises; giving technical and vocational training and jobs to 4,320 young people; building 1,620 climate-resilient infrastructure units; and strengthening 180 local organisations.
Another 900 youth will be trained as social change agents, while 12,000 young people and entrepreneurs will get access to financial services and easier loans. Strengthening 180 small and medium enterprises is expected to create work for a further 1,800 households. Overall, the measures are intended to protect the livelihoods of about 16,500 households from climate-related risks.
In Kharan, Panjgur and Washuk, the programme covers dates, cotton, wheat, cumin, livestock, handmade Balochi embroidery and food processing. With the cooperation of South Air, Balochistan youth will also receive flight-crew training for careers in aviation. Work with Tech Valley is expected to start soon.
Secretary Industries Khalid Sarpara, Balochistan Rural Support Programme CEO Dr Tahir Rashid and other officials attended the meeting.
