PSDF (Punjab Skills Development Fund) was awarded with a letter of appreciation by Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, for its outstanding performance amongst public sector companies. PSDF was acknowledged for its effective ability to deliver its mandate of providing market-relevant skills training to youth of Punjab on behalf of the government of Punjab. PSDF was lauded for continuously striving for excellence in this endeavor.
This year marks a decade for the organization, starting with operations in only 4 districts in Punjab today its funds trainings in all 36 districts and has successfully implemented trainings for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and World Bank. PSDF is Pakistan’s largest skills development fund, dedicated to funding trainings to support skill development and creation of income generating opportunities for youth. It has trained more than 500,000 women and men in the past decade through creating an eco-system of training service providers and forging partnerships with the industry to deliver quality skills trainings in 250 trades.
Alongside this, PSDF has established relationships with international businesses-like Americana, Palm Atlantis, and Rotana to create livelihood opportunities for Pakistani workforce in the international job market. With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, PSDF re-aligned its mode of training and partnered with leading online learning platforms including Coursera and Gnowbe to provide digital learning opportunities for its trainees.
Apart from funding trainings in traditional areas, a key focus for the organization has also been to address the skills gap that exists within marginalized communities, like transgenders, non-Muslim youth and people with disabilities. The organization has funded and designed specialized skill training programs for them through community engagement.
Going forward the organization is gearing up to launch more digital and hybrid learning programs to open income-generating opportunities for its trainees in the growing fields of professional freelancing, entrepreneurship, and self-employment. It will continue funding trainings that will nurture the skillset of youth and play a leading role in advancing the socio-economic progress of the nation.
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