UNDP, FPCCI organize stakeholders’ conference on green jobs

News Desk

PESHAWAR: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) organized a stakeholders’ conference regarding green jobs for youth including women in eco-tourism, weaving, and renewable energy sectors of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

A large number of people from the business community and youth participated in the conference, said a press release issued on Tuesday. During the conference, UNDP Consultant Ahsan Hameed Durrani gave a detailed presentation regarding the three sectors and said that green jobs do not mean ignoring the traditional sector.

However, its purpose is the generation of new opportunities in these three sectors. These jobs are particularly related to the environmental impacts.

Ahsan Durrani also gave an assessment of the gender gap in employment in different sectors. He was of the opinion that progress in any sector is not possible without the participation of women.

On this occasion, other participants demanded the provision of subsidies on solar energy and its access to the maximum population, besides a cut in tax on solar energy. The participants also called for imparting training to youth in the tourism sector and keeping tourist spots clear of pollution and plastic bags.

Speaking at the conference, some women participants stressed the need for utilization of the capabilities of women, particularly the encouragement of women in the handicrafts sector, and provision of access to them through modern technology; besides bringing women of the vocational centers to the forefront to not only promote tourism rather pass on its benefits to the people as well.

The participants emphasized the provision of a better environment for women working in the weaving industry and termed participation of women in these sectors a dire need of the time.

Addressing the conference, FPCCI Coordinator Sartaj Ahmad Khan said, “The tourism sector of the province has great potential which could be utilized for imparting skills to generate employment opportunities for youth.”

He proposed teaching modern digital skills to youth and women, so they could directly get access to the market. Otherwise, middlemen will purchase goods at low prices and then sell them at exorbitant rates.