Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 21 July 2022

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Government of Japan, and UNDP launch the first ever Policing Plans for the Merged Areas

Islamabad, 21 July 2022—Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, Government of Japan, and UNDP launched the first ever Policing Plans for the Merged Areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at an event in Islamabad today. 

The Policing Plans are for seven districts of Merged Areas: Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber, Orakzai, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, and Kurram. The Plans provide a roadmap for the smooth transition of the post–merger local policing system to the formal policing and justice system in the Merged Areas.

The plans also present a context-specific framework to deliver people-centred policing services through collaborative partnerships with local communities and other agencies of the criminal justice system. Furthermore, the plans also propose recommendations to federal, provincial, and district-level decision makers in addressing resource and capacity gaps.

The launch event highlighted the importance of joint efforts between KP Police and development partner to foster a people–centred policing system in the Merged Areas. These efforts are crucial to restoring public security services, rule of law, sustainable peace, and development in the region.

Speaking at the event Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mr. Moazzam Jah Ansari said, “I extend my sincere gratitude to my team in KP Police and UNDP for their exceptional work in developing the very first Policing Plans for the Merged Areas. The Plans present a necessary road map to guide the post-merger transition in policing and better service delivery to the people. On behalf of the KP Police, I extend my sincere thanks to UNDP for its technical advice and assistance, and the Government of Japan for its generous funding. The next critical phase is the successful implementation of the Policing Plans across Merged Areas, and I look forward to UNDP and the Government of Japan’s continued assistance in this regard.”

His Excellency Mr. WADA Mitsuhiro, Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan thanked UNDP and KP Police for their pioneering efforts to strengthen policing in the Merged Areas.  “Improving the local police service in Merged Areas is a key priority in ensuring a smooth transition to equitable public security and justice delivery in the post-merger districts. Therefore, the development of the Police Plans is a crucial milestone in achieving this essential objective. I congratulate the KP Police and UNDP for their pioneering work and the Government of Japan is honoured to support this important initiative.”

“UNDP will continue to provide technical support to KP Police in the implementation of the Policing Plans in the Merged Areas,” highlighted UNDP Pakistan Resident Representative Mr Knut Ostby while speaking during the event. “The Policing Plans will guide the trajectory for a better policing system that is responsive to the needs of local communities. In addition to this, the infrastructure support to build new police stations and training former Levies and Khasadars who were recently integrated into KP Police will complement and add value to this crucial transition phase in the Merged Areas.”

The initiative also includes infrastructure development support to build five new police stations in districts Bajaur, Mohmand, North Waziristan and Kurram, and train 278 former Levies and Khasadars who were recently integrated into the KP Police.

This is being implemented under UNDP's Strengthening Rule of Law Programme, which supports both supply and demand sides of the rule of law, justice, and security sector by strengthening institutional capacity, and citizen rights, and by deepening the ongoing efforts to secure peace and stability.

For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at ayesha.babar@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5650

UNHCR

PRESS RELEASE

Eager for career opportunities, 122 youths graduate from skills training programme

UNHCR and partner Inspire Pakistan provide education, livelihoods training to refugee and Pakistani students

21 July 2022, RAWALPINDI – UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and Inspire Pakistan held a graduation ceremony for the first intake of Afghan refugees and Pakistani students of the Urban Cohesion Hub in Rawalpindi.

A total of 122 students including 62 refugee and 59 Pakistani students obtained their certificates, having completed a three-month training in various education and livelihood courses. Graduates also received a livelihoods kit to start their careers, including sewing machines for tailors and stove tops and a set of pots and utensils for budding chefs.

The Urban Cohesion Hub is a community centre which provides a safe space where women, men, boys and girls of all backgrounds can meet for social events, recreation, education and livelihood programmes, and avail of mental health and legal support.

Established with the objective of empowering refugee and host community youth, skills training programmes are offered three times a year to transition into the job market and fulfil their immense potential as active members of their host communities. These include English language training, computer courses, cosmetology, tailoring, and cooking classes.

Born and raised in Pakistan, Anmol, an Afghan refugee enrolled herself in the culinary arts course. “I found this course very exciting and I learned how to prepare many cuisines,” she said adding she wanted to establish a home-based cooking business to support herself and her family. “It seems that now my dream will come true.”

In the past four years, UNHCR in partnership with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) and other NGO partners provided market-led vocational and technical skills trainings to over 9,000 youth including refugees and Pakistanis in 46 trades in Pakistan, which has helped them to have sustainable income generation opportunities.

UNHCR’s Deputy Representative in Pakistan, Tammi Sharpe, and Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Farid Ullah Jan, attended the event joined by Inspire Pakistan CEO, Qaiser Siddique.

Noting that an estimated three million Afghans including 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and 0.84 million Afghan Citizen Cardholders (ACC) are hosted generously by the people of Pakistan, Farid Ullah Jan underscored the support extended by the Government of Pakistan in health, education, wash, livelihood, international protection, and called for continued investment by the international community in all sectors including training and skills development programmes.

“Strengthening livelihood opportunities are a cornerstone of UNHCR’s activities in Pakistan – because we know that by investing in refugee youth’s education is an investment in their future as well as their communities,” UNHCR Deputy Representative Tammi Sharpe said, adding that empowered youth have the potential to determine their future and serve their community.

She acknowledged and appreciated the partners and donors, in particular the Government of Italy and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, for their generous contribution which has ensured the Hub will continue to train, educate and graduate refugees and hosting communities.

Photo caption:

Afghan refugee and Pakistani graduates of livelihood training posing for a group photo with UNHCR Deputy Representative, Ms. Tammi Sharpe, Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Mr. Farid Ullah Jan and the Chief Executive Officer of Inspire Pakistan, Mr. Qaiser Siddique at the Graduation Ceremony in Rawalpindi. © UNHCR/Asif Shahzad

Media contact

Mr. Qaiser Khan Afridi, UNHCR Pakistan Spokesperson, +92-300-5018696