PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to launch the KP Internship Programme to provide practicaltraining opportunities to 20,000 graduates in various priority industries, software houses, business establishments and other organisations in the province.
A statement issued here said thatunder the proposed threemonth 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, with 50pc of the slots reserved for men and 50pc for women. The applicants will require havingthe minimum CGPA of 3.0.
In this regard, a briefing was given to adviser to the governor on education and social welfare Dr Aamer Abdullah at his office on the proposed initiative, its key features, preparations and implementation me chanism.
Special secretary of higher education, archives and libraries Fazal Hussain and Islamia College University Peshawar Prof Zahoor Jan attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed that graduates holding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa domicile and belonging to the province would be eligible for the programme.
Private-sector organisations would be given priority as host institutions to ensure that participating graduates gain practicalexperience 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, along with necessary details, would be made available through this portal.
Dr Abdullah directed authorities to formulate comprehensive guidelines for the selection, training and placement of graduates, as well as for host organisations and mentors, to ensure transparent, effective and wellorganised implementation of the programme.
He said graduates from key and emerging sectors, including pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, information technology, software development, hospitality, tourism, master chef training, cul-tural tourism, mining and minerals, agriculture and healthcare, among others, should be covered under the initiative.
‘This will enable graduates to acquire practicalskills and professional experience 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 be considered 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 coordi-nated 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 district-wise 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.