PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch the KP Internship Programme to provide practical training opportunities to 20,000 graduates in various priority industries, software houses, business establishments and other organisations in the province.
A statement issued here said that under the proposed three-month programme, each graduate would receive a monthly stipend of Rs30,000, while the total estimated cost of the initiative has been proposed at Rs2 billion.
In the programme, equal participation will be ensured, with50pcoftheslotsreserved for men and 50pc for women.
The applicants will be required to have the minimum CGPA of 3.0.
In this regard, a briefing was given to the adviser to the governor on education and social welfare Dr Aamer Abdullah at his office on the proposed initiative, its key features, preparations andimplement ation me chanism.
Special secretary of higher education, archives and libraries Fazal Hussain and Islamia College University Peshawar Prof Zahoor Jan attended the meeting.
Themeetingwasinformed that graduates holding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa domicile and belonging to the province would be eligible for the programme. Privatesector organisations would be given priority as host institutions to ensure that participating graduates gain practical experience and professional skills in line with prevailing market requirements.
It was further stated that a centralised online portal had also been developed to facilitate graduate registration, host institutions, mentors, internship placements and access to other relevant information and services.
All stages of the programme, alongwithnecessarydetails, would be made available throughthis portal.
Dr Abdullah directed authorities to formulate comprehensive guidelinesfor the selection, training and placement of graduates, as well as for host organisations and mentors, to ensure transparent, effective and well-organised implementation of the programme.
He said graduates from key and emerging sectors, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, information technology, software development, hospitality, tourism, master chef training, cultural tourism, mining and minerals, agriculture and healthcare, among others, should be covered under the initiative.
‘This will enable graduates to acquire practical skills and professionalexperience relevant to their academic qualifications,’ he said.
The adviser said the private sector should be given first priority for internship placements to ensure quality and competitive training in line with market demands and emerging trends.
He said non-governmental organisations, semi-autonomous bodies, universities, colleges and government departments should also beconsidered for placements at subsequent stages.
Dr Abdullah stressed the need to establish a structured mechanism within the higher education department, supported by a clear and coordinated system, to define the responsibilities of all stakeholders and ensure effective monitoring and accountability throughout the programme.
He directed authorities to introduce a paperless, fully online mechanism for payment of stipends to participating graduates. He emphasised that an efficient payment system should be developed to ensure timely disbursement, preferably on a single day.
The adviser said districtwise representation of graduates should be ensured in proportion to the population of each district.
He also called for the development of a comprehensive database of qualified mentors, incorporating their professional experience, profiles and other relevant credentials to facilitate their selection and engagement.