By Faiza Tehseen ISLAMABAD, Feb. 22 (INP-WealthPK): The merger of former Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was done with the sole objective of bringing the hitherto backward region into the political and economic mainstream. The current unemployment rate in merged areas is appalling 11% with a labour force participation of 40%, while female labour force participation stands at a mere 3%. According to the 2017 census, the region’s population was recorded as 5,001,676 people with a 3.21% per annum growth rate. A large number of the region’s youth are unemployed, and the government is trying to enable them to become part of the economic cycle. Mining and marble, agriculture and transport are the sectors that can create huge job opportunities for youth if they are imparted the relevant skills. In this regard, the government as well as foreign and local agencies are engaging in the region to not only provide skills development avenues to the youth, but also launch livelihood projects. Under the Fata Economic Revitalisation Programme (FERP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with its development partner Hashoo Foundation, has provided training to youth to avail market-based employment opportunities in the tile and marble industry, communication skills, technical knowledge and personal grooming. This programme ended in Feb 2020, providing skills development training to 142 youths from Khyber, North Waziristan and South Waziristan districts. UNDP has been working in the region since 2015 and has assisted more than 800,000 people. To revitalise the economy of merged districts, USAID has been coordinating with the government to arrange skills development programmes to make the people build a better future. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s industries, commerce and technical education department have initiated a ‘Special Emphasis Programme (SEP)’ for the youth of the merged districts. Under the SEP, ‘Installing youth in employment’ initiative was launched funded under the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP). SEP aims to elevate the role of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (KP-Tevta) as a facilitator and a services provider to the private sector for training programmes. UNDP and partner organisation, Islamic Relief Pakistan provided training to 100 youth from Kurram and Orakzai districts in February 2021 as part of the government’s initiative to enable the people to generate livelihood opportunities for them. The youth were also given toolkits related to their traits. Under another project ‘stabilisation through inclusive livelihood’, 700 youth of different areas were given training in different fields. The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the UNDP have also joined hands for skills development of the youth of the merged districts to help them enhance their living standards. According to senior sector specialist of UNDP Ahmad Umair, 50% of youth in the merged areas are under matriculation. “The only source to make them a part of economic stream is to make them well-trained and skilled. Thousands of youths aged between 18 to 38 years are those who could not get any education during the militancy period in the region.” He said that the UNDP in collaboration with other organisations was providing training opportunities to both men and women. He sought the Islamabad chamber’s support to provide training to youths in multiple sectors like mines, minerals, construction, health, hospitality, tourism, agriculture, services and industry. He said the UNDP was providing scholarships worth Rs15,000 to every youth getting training. Mr. Umair was speaking at a seminar organised by ICCI on skills development programme in ex-Fata. ICCI president Shakeel Munir has said it is important to make the youth of merged areas skilful and well-trained to get better jobs or start their own ventures. “Right now, it is difficult to predict how much GDP or economic growth will be resulted due to the steps taken for sustainable livelihood and economic betterment of the people in the tribal districts,” he said. The government is also establishing industries in the tribal districts aimed at improving livelihood of the residents in this backward region. Prime Minister’s Kamyab Jawan Programme is also focusing on the youth of this region to ameliorate their predicament.