ISLAMABAD, Nov 06 (DNA): The Board of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has approved a pilot residential technical and vocational skills training programme in collaboration with Pak-Austria Fachhochschule Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST), Haripur, aimed at equipping 300 BISP beneficiaries from across the country with high-quality, market-oriented professional skills to improve their employment prospects and enable them to achieve sustainable livelihoods.
Under the initiative, beneficiaries will receive residential training through an internationally aligned skills development model, with a focus on three priority sectors: Hospitality Management and Tourism Services; Healthcare Services and Patient Care; and Information Technology and Digital Skills.
To promote women’s economic empowerment, at least 50 percent of the programme’s participants will be women.
The initiative will also facilitate participants’ interaction with employers, career counselling, workplace orientation, exposure to relevant industries and access to internationally recognised certifications in selected sectors.
The integrated approach is designed to enhance participants’ employability and strengthen their competitiveness in both domestic and international labour markets by equipping them with skills aligned with industry requirements.
The pilot programme will serve as a proof of concept to evaluate the effectiveness of the residential skills development model and assess its potential for expansion in the future.
The initiative reflects BISP’s commitment to moving beyond conventional social assistance towards sustainable livelihood development and economic empowerment of deserving families.
Through investment in human capital and the provision of demand-driven professional skills, the programme aims to create pathways for beneficiaries to secure dignified employment, improve their income prospects and achieve greater economic self-reliance.
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