FAISALABAD - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is going to launch a “skill development programme” in under-developed areas of the Punjab to equip the youth with technical skills in order to alleviate poverty and provide more job opportunities. This was stated by a delegation of USAID, comprising its director general, Lahore, Philippie Acclien and Project Management Specialist Director General Wasi Ashraf, on Wednesday during its visit to the University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The delegation also called on UAF Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at his chamber and discussed the avenues to open up skills development short courses in collaboration with the varsity teaching staff. Acclien said that under the first phase of the project, they were kicking off short courses in Multan district to equip the youth with skills so that they could lead a balanced life. He said the project was meant to cope with poverty and unemployment engulfing the country. He said the USAID intended to train people in the areas of value-addition, food techniques and technologies, water management, various machineries tools and other demand-oriented fields. He sought the proposal from the university and their assistance in the project. Acclien stressed the need for producing entrepreneurs so that the problem of unemployment could be fought effectively. The delegates said that initially, they were focusing on southern Punjab.Prof Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the varsity was committed to poverty alleviation and had launched 200 short courses under its Department of Continuing Education. He added that the courses ranged from three days to three years. He pinned hope that the project would prove to be a hallmark in addressing the said cause. Khan further said that the university could initiate short courses at its sub campus in Dera Ghazi Khan. He also proposed launching of short courses in Chak-5 Faiz village, where the university had collaboration with the Pak-German Vocational Training Centre.Dept of Continuing Education Prof Mahmood A Randhawa said that the department produced more than 0.1 million students since its inception. He said that under the Waseela Rozgar, Benazir Income Support Programme, the varsity was providing training opportunities for ten modules. He also said the department had strong ties with the other programme of the government aimed at fighting poverty with skills. Prof Dr Ashfaq Chatta was also present on the occasion.