Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 17 April 2025

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

600 young people from Kurram and Orakzai trained in digital skills under Government of Japan-UNDP initiative

Islamabad, 17 April 2025 - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), with support from the Government of Japan, has successfully completed a digital skills training programme for young people from Kurram and Orakzai districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). A closing ceremony held in Islamabad marked a major milestone in efforts to expand digital literacy and create employment opportunities in underserved regions.

Through this initiative, 600 young individuals - 52 percent women of whom were women - received training in high-demand digital skills to access employment and freelancing opportunities in both domestic and global emerging job markets.

Speaking at the occasion, Chief Guest Dr. Shafqat Ayaz, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Science & Information Technology, Government of KP, lauded the graduates for their dedication and achievement and said, "The energy and determination of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's youth are the foundation of our province's progress. By equipping them with digital skills, we are not just bridging the digital divide-we are unlocking a future of innovation, inclusion, and economic resilience."

The programme offered two months of comprehensive training followed by a two-month internship, covering areas such as web and mobile application development, Amazon Web Services, photography, and filmmaking. Additionally, short 15-day courses were provided in social media marketing, e-commerce, graphic designing, video editing, and content writing.

"We deeply value our long-standing partnership with the Government of Japan, which continues to drive meaningful change in communities that need it most," said Mr. Abdul Haseeb, Head of UNDP Sub- Office Peshawar and Programme Manager. "This initiative reflects UNDP's commitment to using technology for inclusive and sustainable economic growth. To date, we've equipped nearly 5,800 young people with market-relevant digital skills and pathways to employment. Nearly half of our graduates are women-breaking barriers in tech and narrowing the digital gender divide."

Mr. Murtaza Zaidi, Chief Executive Officer of CyberVision International, said "Fostering digital capacity is essential to boosting exports and driving growth in the digital economy. By embracing innovation and emerging trends, we can unlock new opportunities and shape a sustainable future."

This initiative is part of a broader US$4.1 million project supported by the Government of Japan and UNDP to strengthen social stability, support economic recovery, and improve local governance in Kurram and Orakzai. Anchored in a people-centered approach and focused on youth and women, the project is expected to benefit over 200,000 people, at least half of them women, by building more resilient and inclusive communities.

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Fizza Bangash, Head of Communications Unit, UNDP Pakistan fizza.bangash@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5631

About UNDP:

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Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP

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