BISP, Pak-Austria Institute Discuss Skills Training Under Benazir Hunarmand Program

Haripur: (Web Desk) – Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid, visited the Pak-Austria Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST) in Haripur to explore collaboration for skill development and training of BISP beneficiaries under the Benazir Hunarmand Program (BHP).

She was received by Rector PAF-IAST Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mujahid and senior management, who briefed her on the institute’s academic framework, training facilities, and industry-linked education model. Senator Rubina Khalid also toured laboratories and hostels to assess the institute’s capacity for implementing skill-based programs.

Emphasizing skills-led poverty graduation, the Chairperson said youth must be equipped with market-relevant skills to become self-reliant and productive citizens. She stressed that skill development should follow a value-chain approach, integrating work ethics and employability skills to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

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Ms. Zainab Azmat, Head of the Human Capital Development Office at PAF-IAST, informed that the institute offers 12 training and four diploma programs in hospitality, health, and IT, certified by City & Guilds (UK), with language and soft skills components.

Both BISP and PAF-IAST agreed to explore the design of specialized skill courses for BISP beneficiaries. DG BISP KP Alaf Jan Afridi and members of the Benazir Hunarmand Program team also attended the meeting.

The visit marks an important step toward strengthening partnerships for youth empowerment, inclusive human capital development, and sustainable livelihoods across Pakistan.