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PESHAWAR, Aug 27 (APP):The Directorate of Youth Affairs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has unveiled its Annual Performance and Financial Evaluation Report for the year 2024-25, reflecting significant progress in promoting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and socio-economic uplift across the province.
The report highlights that the department,under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Syed Fakhar Jehan, through the Youth Development Package, undertook a series of targeted initiatives focusing on youth welfare, skills enhancement, entrepreneurship support and student facilitation.
During the year, under the Annual Development Programme (ADP), more than 3,500 young people were trained in startup boot camps, vocational courses, IT skills and e-commerce certifications at a cost of Rs. 8.5 million. Career and behavioral counseling workshops worth Rs. 7.2 million benefitted around 12,000 youth, while summer camps organized in universities and youth hostels with an allocation of Rs. 3 million provided learning and recreational opportunities to over 1,100 participants.
Similarly, the Youth Talent Hunt strategy helped polish the creative skills of 5,000 young men and women with funds of nearly Rs. 4.9 million, whereas internship programs specifically designed for youth of the merged districts supported 400 beneficiaries with Rs. 5.5 million.
In addition, scholarships and financial assistance worth Rs. 6.5 million were provided to 48 deserving youth.
Altogether, the ADP portfolio accounted for an expenditure of Rs. 35.58 million on 154 activities, directly benefitting 22,048 young people across the province.
Parallel to the ADP, the Accelerated Implementation Programme (AIP) also played a crucial role in advancing youth initiatives.
Through AIP, nearly 2,500 youth received training in startup development, vocational and technical skills at a cost of Rs. 3.88 million, while summer camps worth Rs. 1.46 million were arranged for 700 youth.
Career and behavioral counseling activities worth Rs. 4.1 million benefitted another 7,100 young participants, and the Youth Talent Hunt initiative engaged 1,800 youth with a financial outlay of Rs. 3.99 million.
Furthermore, 400 youth from merged districts took part in internship programs financed with Rs. 1.08 million. Overall, the AIP contributed Rs. 14.53 million to 58 activities, reaching 12,500 beneficiaries.
The flagship Ehsaas Nojawan Programme emerged as another key pillar of youth empowerment during the year. Under the Bank of Khyber’s Large Loan Scheme, Rs. 500 million was earmarked and fully released.
A total of 13,275 applications were received, leading to the approval of 210 loans worth Rs. 552 million, out of which 142 loans amounting to Rs. 415 million were disbursed.
Similarly, under the Akhuwat Small Loan Package, Rs. 600 million was allocated and fully utilized. Out of 5,931 applicants, 3,699 were sanctioned loans and a total of Rs. 602.65 million was distributed, while Rs. 42.88 million was also recovered during the period.
The Directorate underlined that youth development remains a cornerstone of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s agenda. Backed by the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur and the patronage of Provincial Minister Syed Fakhar Jehan, the Youth Affairs sector continues to steer forward with energy and commitment, striving for the socio-economic uplift, capacity development and long-term prosperity of the younger generation.