PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Economic Transformation Project (KP-RETP) organized an industry seminar on Job Placement and Employment Promotion to strengthen collaboration between the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the private sector, particularly industries and small and medium enterprises, for expanding employment opportunities for skilled youth in the province.
KP-RETP is a flagship initiative of the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, implemented in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said an official communique.
The project aims to reduce rural poverty, enhance food and nutrition security, and strengthen household resilience by increasing incomes through climate-resilient agriculture and diversified off-farm and non-farm employment, with a special focus on youth and women.
The seminar was conducted under Component-II (Skill Development and Employment Promotion) of KP-RETP, which focuses on improving employability, entrepreneurship, and workforce integration of rural youth, women, men, and transgender individuals through market-driven skills training, self-employment support, and structured job placement in partnership with industry and SMEs.
Participants were briefed on the job placement initiative, which provides paid internship opportunities of up to twelve months for skilled and certified youth. The initiative is designed to enhance practical exposure, workplace readiness, and employability while addressing skills mismatches through effective public-private collaboration.
Under the initiative, each internee will receive a monthly stipend of PKR 15,000 from KP-RETP, while host industries will contribute in-kind support equivalent to PKR 5,000 per month in the form of mentorship and structured on-the-job learning.
Addressing the seminar, Amjad Meraj, project director KP-RETP, highlighted the project’s objectives and urged industrialists and SMEs to partner with KP-RETP in transforming skilled youth into a productive workforce, with emphasis on inclusivity, sustainability, and long-term socioeconomic impact.
Malik Mansoor, managing director KP-TEVTA, briefed participants on the industry application and participation process, including submission of Expressions of Interest through the KP-TEVTA digital portal. The president of the Women Chamber of Commerce, Qurat-ul-Ain, along with representatives from the Directorate of Industries, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also briefed participants on the internship framework in accordance with relevant Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa laws and policies, outlining procedural steps and stakeholder responsibilities.
