islamabad - Government of Japan and United Nations Development Programme on Monday signed an agreement to launch a $3.9 million initiative aiming to empower more than 20,000 youth in Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The initiative will help improve employment prospects and promote social cohesion through positive interactions amongst young people in deprived communities, helping them participate actively in the socioeconomic development of Pakistan, said a statement. Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador of Japan Takashi Kurai said that Pakistan’s population was very young and ensuring job opportunities and income for youth was critical for development of the country. “Japan will continue to support youth and young women so that they can take the lead in development of the country which has bright future with young population”, he added. Country Director UNDP Pakistan Ignacio Artaza said that challenges posed by the ‘youth bulge’ in Pakistan were immense. “Almost 1.8 million jobs are required every year to absorb the growing number of young people entering the job market. The youth represent the future of Pakistan, and this is a tremendous opportunity for which we are thankful to the Government of Japan,” he added.

Youth Empowerment in Sindh and KP Project will provide opportunities that increase young people’s employment prospects and enhance social cohesion in areas that currently have limited scope for social and economic engagement. Youth-friendly community spaces will be developed to promote interactions between young people and youth from underdeveloped areas will receive demand-driven skills trainings to help them gain productive employment in local industries, the statement said.