Business Incubation Programme launched for youth of newly merged districts of KP.

ISLAMABAD -- A Business Incubation Programme for the youth of the Newly Merged Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was launched here on Wednesday.

Various government officials, representatives of USAID, UNDP, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) and young entrepreneurs from the newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa attended the ceremony.

Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan, Member National Assembly and Chairperson Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians was the chief guest.

Under this initiative, business incubation services will be provided to 180 aspiring entrepreneurs including 54 women from Khyber, North and South Waziristan districts.

The programme will provide technical assistance in the form of mentoring, coaching and training.

The young entrepreneurs will go through one-month incubation training, followed by a grant provision/distribution after approval of their business ideas.

The programme is implemented by TiE Islamabad in partnership with United Nations Development Programme -UNDP under the USAID funded FATA Economic Revitalisation Programme (FERP).

Speaking at the ceremony, Wasim Bari, Activity Manager, USAID said, FERP would provide sustainable income generation and livelihood opportunities to the returnees of the region who were displaced due to the former security situation.

All the components of the business incubation programme including business development grants, investment capital, and skills training provided to the potential beneficiaries from the newly merged districts of KP are equally important.

To increase the size of the economy, we should always support and invest in such incubation ventures and training programs that unlock the prospects for self-employment and economic growth,he said.

Mustafa Mehmood, Program Officer UNDP stated, 'From working in FATA with the government of Pakistan since 2005, UNDP's efforts have always successfully supported the sustainable returns and rehabilitation strategy."

"This incubation programme will help unleash the potential of youth and entrepreneurship opportunities in the newly merged districts of KP.

We, along with our...