13 اکتوبر
Press Release

Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) Remits Workforce to the Gulf

Lahore: Under the direction of the Chief Minister of the Punjab, Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif; Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) has taken concrete steps to create employment opportunities in the Gulf for skilled workforce of Punjab. PSDF and Rotana have signed a landmark agreement to employ skilled workforce in their hotels & resorts that has been trained under the PSDF banner.

L-R: Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO PSDF and Mr. Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO Rotana.

L-R: Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO PSDF and Mr. Omer Kaddouri, President & CEO Rotana.

With properties operational across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Rotana is counted amongst the leading hotel management companies, offering five and four-star products. Earlier this year, PSDF inked an agreement with Rotana with an understanding to provide skilled individuals from the hospitality sector in the trades of Housekeeping, Waiters/Waitresses and Commis – Chefs at various Rotana hotels & resorts. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Mr. Jawad Khan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PSDF and Mr. Omer Kaddouri, President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rotana.

By employing a rigorous selection process, PSDF shortlisted a pool of the finest candidates from various districts of Punjab. This joint collaboration between PSDF and Rotana is expected to benefit 75+ candidates in the first phase of training and employment.

On this remarkable achievement, Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO PSDF said, “Our partnership with Rotana is a testament to the high quality of training on international standards that PSDF is providing to the youth in Punjab. Rotana is one of the leading hospitality brands in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey and would hire only the best. Choosing PSDF as a partner for their hiring needs in Pakistan is a vote of confidence for us at PSDF as we continue to create more employment opportunities for our youth in the Gulf.”

Commenting on this collaboration, Mr. Omer Kaddouri, President &CEO Rotana said, “With our aggressive expansion plan, we are always on the search for talent and our agreement with a highly reputable company such as PSDF will certainly assist us to attract the right calibre for our hotels & resorts”.

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About PSDF:
Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 not-for-profit company established in 2010 under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by the Government of the Punjab in partnership with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID, UK). The World Bank is also providing funds to the Punjab Government for the trainings to be funded by PSDF. PSDF aims to provide quality skills and vocational training opportunities to the poor and vulnerable populations of all the 36 districts of Punjab in order to improve livelihood prospects for them. Since its establishment in 2011, PSDF has trained 150,000 youth in over 200 trades and it works with over 250 private and public sector training providers. Over the next 5 years, we will be training over 400,000 youth across Punjab that will be employed in Pakistan and abroad.
Web: psdf.org.pk/oldwebsite

About Rotana:
Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa and Turkey with an aggressive expansion plan in place. Rotana has chosen to acknowledge how precious time is by making all time spent in their range of hotels ‘Treasured Time’. This means Rotana has pledged to understand and meet the individual needs of all guests. In so doing, Rotana has evolved its product brands to include, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana and The Residences by Rotana. Treasured Time. The Rotana promise to you.
Further information on any Rotana property, its brands or reservations can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or by contacting one of the regional sales offices.

For Media Queries:
Communications Team, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) Contact: +92-42-35752408-10

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

Contract Signing with Metro Cash & Carry International Holding BV

LAHORE: A contract signing ceremony between Punjab Skills Development Fund and Metro Cash & Carry International Holding BV took place at the PSDF Lahore Office. The Chief Executive Officer (PSDF) Mr. Jawad Khan signed the contract with the Managing Director Metro Cash & Carry Mr. Marek Minkiewics for imparting agricultural skills training under the scheme of “Big Push for Rural Economy – Agriculture Sector”. Director Metro Cash & Carry Mr. Pervaiz Akhtar, Head of Legal & Company Secretary Metro Cash & Carry Mr. Asad Malik, Chief Operating Officer Star Farm Pakistan, Member of Metro Group Mr. Muhammad Zeshan Saqib, Manager Marketing Star Farm Pakistan, Member of Metro Group Mr. Hasnain Hyder, Chief Operating Officer PSDF Mr. Ali Akbar Bosan and Manager Program Development PSDF Mr. Aftab Ahmad were also present at the occasion. Under the contract Metro Cash & Carry International will provide agricultural skills training to over 10,000 men and 2,000 women of 4 districts of Southern Punjab i.e. Bahawlapur, Bahawalnagar, Lodhran and Muzaffargarh. Both General and Specialized agricultural skills training will be imparted to the active agriculturists who aspire to achieve production complementarities in cotton, wheat & vegetables. With the General agricultural training there will be an expected increase of 10% – 15% in the production of cotton and wheat accompanied with the average increase of Rs.10,000 – Rs. 23,000 in household income. Moreover, under the Specialized agricultural training there will be an expected increase of 12% -17% in the earnings of the project beneficiaries as well. The trainings will enhance and cover the entire value chain across the agriculture sector. Since, agriculture sector accounts for 25.3% of the country’s total GDP with gradual declines experienced in the past as well, which is why this sector needs consistent consideration for such agricultural skills practices to be implemented in order to achieve the economies of scale with supplemented productions per acre. Majority of the country’s population is either directly or indirectly dependent upon agriculture sector which is the largest source of foreign exchange earnings as well. Therefore, the training imparted under the contract will not only help the farmers with supplemented productions and revenues but will also be equally beneficial to boost the country’s overall economy.

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

Certificate Distribution Ceremony of PSDF-funded trainees held at National College of Arts

LAHORE: The National College of Arts (NCA) organized a certificate distribution ceremony for trainees, funded by Punjab Skills Development Fund, at the Shakir Ali Auditorium, National College of Arts here. The chief guest of the ceremony was Minister for Labor & Human Resource, Government of the Punjab, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar. A total of 112 trainees belonging from various districts of the Punjab received their certificates. These trainees have been trained in six different employable trades by NCA.

These trainings were funded by Punjab Skills Development Fund under its scheme, Skills for Employability. CEO PSDF Mr. Ali Sarfraz & Principal NCA Prof. Dr. Murtaza Jafri were also present at the occasion. These trainings were imparted in six courses – Ceramics Product Design, Furniture Design, Non Linear Editing Level-II, Photography, Prototype Development, Wood Work.

“It gives me immense pleasure to be among the students who have been trained by the National College of Arts and learnt new skills,” Raja Ashfaq Sarwar said while addressing the successful students. He expressed his gratitude over the efforts by the Principal NCA for this initiative and said that he is delightful to see that the National College of Arts has taken a positive step by supporting Government of the Punjab’s efforts for promotion of vocational & technical skills in the province. He also appreciated PSDF’s efforts for providing funding to eligible trainees so that they can learn new skills that would enable them to augment their job prospects. He said that he is very optimistic that the successful students would be able to earn livelihood for their families after joining job market.

CEO PSDF Ali Sarfraz congratulated the NCA management for being a training service provider for the PSDF scheme. He was of the opinion that national institutes such as NCA cay play an important role in promoting vocational education among people.  “I would like to stress over the point that the students should make genuine efforts to secure jobs in the job market so that they are able to play their role in the Punjab’s economy,” said Ali Sarfraz.

In the perseverance to further effectuate its efforts for skills development, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) launched the scheme, Skills for Employability, for residents of the 14 districts of the Punjab. For the scheme, contracts were awarded to 75 training service providers for training of 14,415 candidates. These contracts were awarded to a multitude of training service providers from both public and private sector to deliver quality training services.

The scheme is a sequel of the Fund’s earlier scheme, Skills for Employability, which was launched in 2011. In the preceding round, more than 15,000 completed their trainings in numerous vocational trades.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in partnership with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organisations to provide vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of the Punjab. Until now, PSDF has funded trainings of 110,935 men and women from its target districts of the Punjab under its various schemes for skills development.

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

PSDF Launches its New Scheme Skills for Employability 2015

LAHORE: In its perseverance to promote quality vocational skills development, PSDF launched its new scheme, Skills for Employability 2015, to fund training of more than 16,000 individuals in various employment-oriented trades. Contracts worth 730 million were awarded to 79 training service providers in a launching ceremony here at a local hotel. The scheme would target individuals belonging to the 14 target districts – Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan, Khanewal, Lodhran & Vehari, Muzaffargarh, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Narowal, Lahore, Sheikhupura and Sargodha, in order to equip them with various need-based skills.

While addressing the media, COO PSDF, Mr. Ali Akbar Bosan said that PSDF successfully trained more than 86,000 individuals since its inception. The scheme is another round of one of PSDF’s major training schemes, Skills for Employability, under which individuals will be imparted technical and vocational skills that are demanded by local industry. Mr. Bosan expressed his gratitude for the Government of the Punjab and Department for International Development UK (DFID) for patronizing the promotion of quality skills development in the province. He further said that PSDF is rigorously pursuing to enhance the role of local industry in the development of relevant skilled manpower for the country.

Under Skills for Employability 2015, trainings will be imparted in diverse trade groups ranging from agriculture, automobile, hospitality, information technology and footwear. Through its all training schemes, PSDF will achieve its target to fund training of 135,000 individuals from the fourteen target districts of Punjab.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organizations for providing vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of fourteen districts of South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khaewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Narowal and Sheikhupura. Until now, PSDF has funded trainings of more than 86,000 men and women from its target districts of the Punjab under its various schemes for skill development.

For any other query, please contact Mr. Usman Khan, Assistant Manager Communications

Cell # 0321 – 4120589

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

PSDF Launches its New Scheme Skills for Job 2015

LAHORE: In its perseverance to promote quality vocational skills development, PSDF has launched its new scheme, Skills for Job 2015, to train more than 11,000 individuals in various employment-oriented trades. Contracts of worth eight hundred million were awarded to fifty two training service providers in a launching ceremony here at a local hotel. The scheme would target individuals belonging to the districts of Khanewal, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh and Rahim Yar Khan, in order to equip them with various need-based skills.

While addressing the media, CEO PSDF, Mr. Ali Sarfraz said that PSDF successfully trained more than 55,000 individuals since its inception. The scheme is another round of one of PSDF’s major training schemes, Skills for Job, under which individuals are imparted with technical and vocational skills that are demanded by the job market. He expressed his gratitude for the Government of the Punjab and Department for International Development UK (DFID) for patronizing the promotion of quality skills development in the province. He further said that the Fund is rigorously pursuing to enhance the role of local industry in the development of relevant skilled manpower for the country.

According to company spokesperson, under Skills for Job 2015, trainings will be imparted in diverse trade groups ranging from construction, automobile, electrical, mechanical, energy, garments, and hospitality and service sector. Through the launch of its upcoming training schemes, the Fund is going to train another pool of 80,000 individuals from the fourteen districts of Punjab.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organizations for providing vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of fourteen districts of South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khaewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Narowal and Sheikhupura. Until now, PSDF has funded trainings of 80,000 men and women from its target districts of the Punjab under its various schemes for skill development. In future, PSDF plans to launch specialized schemes for labor-intensive sectors: Light Engineering, Footwear, Food Processing, Construction, Garments and Hospitality.

For any other query, please contact Mr. Usman Khan, Assistant Manager Communications

Cell # 0321 – 4120589

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

PSDF and Akhuwat inks agreement to facilitate trainees

LAHORE: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Akhuwat on September 22, 2014 here. MoU signing ceremony was held at the PSDF Head Office in Lahore where Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PSDF Mr Ali Sarfraz and Executive Director Akhuwat Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib inked the agreement on behalf of their organizations. The purpose of the MoU was to develop a liaison between PSDF-funded trainees and Akhuwat for facilitating PSDF trainees so that that they can avail micro-finance loans. PSDF will also share the relevant information about Akhuwat with its trainees so that they can easily avail these loans which will enable them in starting their own business. The collaborative effort will prove to be a landmark initiative for the PSDF-funded trainees who want to become entrepreneurs but they are unable to do so have limited resources.  The initiative will be a hope for poor trainees who want to start their own business or enterprise.

During the MOU signing Ceremony, PSDF CEO explained that the Fund would provide information to PSDF-funded trainees about Akhuwat and its locations in different districts. He said that it would help the trainees to understand the whole process. He further elaborated that a combined brochure of Akhuwat and PSDF, containing the basic information about Akhuwat and eligibility criteria for getting loans from Akhuwat, will be developed. To further augment the facilitation, PSDF will also include branch locations of Akhuwat on its website. Executive Director Akhuwat Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib said that special preference will be given to PSDF-funded trainees so that they can avail microfinance loans in operational areas of Akhuwat. He said that Akhuwat will provide all information about its branches locations to PSDF and also dedicate a contact person for dealing with PSDF-funded trainees.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organisations for providing vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of fourteen districts of South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khaewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Narowal and Sheikhupura. Until now, PSDF has funded trainings of 52,000 men and women from its target districts of the Punjab under its various schemes for skill development. In future, PSDF plans to launch specialized schemes for labor-intensive sectors: Light Engineering, Footwear, Food Processing, Construction, Garments and Hospitality.

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

PSDF Launches Women-Focused Scheme for Skill Development

LAHORE: In the perseverance to further effectuate its efforts for skills development, Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) launched its new scheme, Skills for Market 2013-14 today in a ceremony here. The launching ceremony was organized at the organization’s head office in Lahore, where contracts of Rs. 397/- million were awarded to 16 training service providers. PSDF has taken on board a multitude of training service providers from both public and private sector to deliver quality training services. Under the scheme, 10,000 women from 10 districts of the Punjab – Lahore, Chiniot, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Khanewal, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Shiekhupura and Vehari – will be trained in courses relevant to livestock & farming and textiles & services. While addressing at the ceremony, COO PSDF Mr Ali Akbar Bosan said that the scheme would contribute in enhancing women’s participation in the country’s labor force. He further said that the Fund follows a competitive model for the award of contracts which ensures transparency and helps escalating the quality of training services. He said that untrained or informally-trained women remain unable to command better wages in the job market which hinders the prospective economic growth and results in the creation of ineffective markets. The particular scheme would offer training opportunities in various innovative trades which will enable better livelihood opportunities for women belonging to meager economic backgrounds.

The scheme is a sequel to the Fund’s previous two rounds of the scheme – Skills for Market. In the preceding rounds, more than 6,000 women from the Fund’s target districts of Punjab have been trained in numerous vocational trades. Skills for Market 2014-15 will feature vocational trainings in trades like; Home Based Livestock Farming, Kitchen Gardening, Food Processing, Commercial Bee-Keeping, Solar Drying of Fruits and Tunnel Farming. From the trade group of textiles & services, trainings will be provided in courses like Textiles Embellishments, Industrial Stitching, Textile Product Delivery and Marketing.

According to company spokesperson, the scheme has been designed after extensive deliberations with all the stakeholders in order to provide socially pertinent training opportunities specifically for the rural women of the Punjab in order to capacitate them to earn reasonably for their families.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organisations for providing vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of fourteen districts of South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khaewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Narowal and Sheikhupura. Until now, PSDF has funded trainings of 40,000 men and women from its target districts of the Punjab under its various schemes for skill development. In future, PSDF plans to launch specialized schemes for labor-intensive sectors: Light Engineering, Footwear, Food Processing, Construction, Garments and Hospitality.

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

PSDF collaborates with PIFFA to assess skills needs in the logistics sector

LAHORE: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) in its latest efforts to increase the supply of skilled labour in the country conducted a workshop on the “Skills Need Assessment for the Logistics Sector” in association with Pakistan International Freight Forwarders Association (PIFFA). The workshop brought together experts and stakeholders from all fields with in the logistics sector with the aim to identify the dearth of trained manpower and skills gaps prevalent in the sector.

Chairman PSDF, Dr. Ijaz Nabi, began his speech by providing a background of the Government’s initiatives for skills development in the province. He said that PSDF is focusing on the logistics sector as it has great potential for employability and growth. “This highly-productive sector is very labor-intensive and offers numerous entry-level jobs for unskilled workers as well as technicians,” PSDF Chairman said. He also described the general situation of Pakistan’s logistics sector, and also explained the strategic issues and obstructions faced by the sector. He then gave the audience a briefing on the goals and objectives of the workshop.

CEO, PSDF, Mr. Ali Sarfraz, in his opening remarks, said that the workshop will enable the organisation to design a scheme that directly addresses the needs of the logistics sector. He said that the feedback gathered through the experts provides a bird’s eye view of the trends in this sector, enabling PSDF to better align its efforts. The rationale behind each training scheme is driven by gauging the industry’s demand for skills and expertise in a particular sector. In the same verve, the valuable information revealed in this workshop will be worked on to launch a training scheme in order to support the logistics sector of the Punjab.

Addressing to the participants, Mr. Abdul Majeed Paracha, Chairman, PIFFA, said that non-trained workers impose severe limitations on capacity as well as the quality of work. He said that the association is optimistic that the workshop will prove very helpful in this regard. He added, by utilizing PSDF’s expertise in skills development, the logistics industry will get a much-needed boast as trained labour will be better equipped to take on the future challenges of the industry.

Punjab Skills development Fund (PSDF) is a section 42 company, established by the Government of the Punjab in collaboration with the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. PSDF funds vocational training organisations for providing vocational and skills training to the poor and the vulnerable populations of fourteen districts of South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Bahawalnagar, Vehari, Khaewal, Rahim Yar Khan, Lahore, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Narowal and Sheikhupura. Until now, PSDF has funded the trainings of 40,000 men and women in its target districts of Punjab under its various schemes for skill development. In future, PSDF plans to launch special schemes for sectors: light engineering, footwear, food processing, sports goods, surgical instruments & cutlery and furniture.

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

Samsung Empowers Rural Female Artisans by supporting their Craftsmanship through its Corporate Citizenship Initiative – Aangan

Samsung in collaboration with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Punjab Skill Development Fund is encouraging financial inclusion of women through digital literacy and provision of technology at the grass root level

Lahore, October 11, 2019: Samsung introduces the second edition of Aangan to improve the financial outlook and create opportunities for women in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Punjab Skill Development Fund. Through Aangan, Samsung is reviving and celebrating Pakistani female rural artisans and their craftsmanship and becoming the enabler for financial inclusivity.

The official MOU signing ceremony for this year’s edition of Aangan took place at the Samsung head office in Lahore. The MOU was signed by Mr. Roy Chang – Managing Director Samsung Electronics Pakistan, Mr. Danish Jabbar Khan – Chief Executive Officer Kaarvan Crafts Foundation and Mr. Jawad Khan – Chief Executive Officer Punjab Skill Development Fund.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Roy said: “At Samsung, our Global Corporate Citizenship vision is ‘Enabling People’. By providing education for future generations, we empower future innovators to achieve their full potential and become the next generations of leaders to pioneer positive social change.”

Aangan is an initiative that aims to revolutionize every courtyard, in every home; creating female micro-entrepreneurs (MEs) in various villages all across Punjab. Aangan started last year in partnership with Kaarvan Crafts Foundation with 80 micro-entrepreneurs (MEs) garnering massive success and helping these MEs earn an additional 12% on average and hence contributing towards their improved financial standing. This year the programme has been expanded to 140 micro-entrepreneurs with the inclusion of graduates from the Skills for Market Linkages (SFML) initiative of PSDF; providing them with market linkages through the aanganpk.com marketplace and transforming skilled craftswomen into business women.

Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO, PSDF said, “PSDF is keenly engaged in creating market access and linkages for its beneficiaries through the use of technology, especially for rural women, who find it difficult to identify, access and serve local and international markets. Through the Aangan platform, PSDF is confident that it will successfully overcome these challenges and contribute towards higher income generation opportunities for its beneficiaries.”

Mr. Danish Khan, CEO Kaarvan Crafts Foundation said, "The idea of Aangan is to unlock the potential of the Female Artisans living in far flung areas of Pakistan with Digital Market Linkages where they can sell directly to the customers without any intermediary. Now, that is a game changer when these artisans embrace technology as an opportunity and that is what we are doing through Aangan.’

Aangan in an all-inclusive initiative that provides rural women with multi-fold trainings; ranging from skill development and refinement, product enhancement and digital literacy trainings. It also provides them with access to smartphones, internet and an online marketplace (www.aanganpk.com) to register and sell their products directly to end consumers all across Pakistan with the aim to help expand the social and economic capacities of rural women – to contribute to the well-being of self, family and society.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd:
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

About Kaarvan Crafts Foundation:

Crafts Foundation was established in 2004 and is incorporated as a Not-for-Profit company registered under Section 32 and licensed under Section 42 of Companies Ordinance, Pakistan. It’s a hub of innovation, passion and humility. Kaarvan believes that every woman has the right to earn a dignified livelihood. It provides life skills to Pakistani Rural Women in order to build their confidence to participate in local decision-making and carving connections with relevant urban markets. Kaarvan has developed a holistic practice of immersive grassroots operational fieldwork for the rural women to develop socially constructive attitudes and behaviors – Skills to craft a living as right to development, right to peace and right to healthful environment. Till date Kaarvan has mobilized, trained and empowered more than 24,000 rural women in 15 districts across Pakistan – expanding economic opportunities for them to earn their own income.

About PSDF – A Success Story of Public-Private Partnerships:

Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) is the largest skills development fund in Pakistan. PSDF was established in 2010 as a not-for-profit company set up under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by the Government of Punjab (GoPb) in collaboration with UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). PSDF also exclusively manages the skills training funding of the World Bank.

PSDF’s purpose is to shape the future and well-being of our poor and vulnerable youth by giving them access to skills training of the highest standard so they can find sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities in Pakistan and beyond.

PSDF started its operations in the 4 poorest districts of Punjab. Since 2016, The geographical remit has expanded to the entire 36 districts of Punjab. PSDF has trained almost 300,000 underprivileged youth across Punjab, which includes 180,000+ male and 110,000+ female graduates. These graduates have been trained in approximately 250 demand-driven and market relevant trades across 10 sectors.

PSDF has played a leadership role in creating a skills training market with 90% training partners in the private sector. With 400 training partners that deliver training on behalf of PSDF, out of which over 150 are businesses across the 10 sectors. PSDF has adopted an output-based funding mechanism where it funds contract-to-completion outputs as well as completion-to-income generation outcomes.

PSDF – Media Enquiries

Communications Team:
Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF),
Contact: +92-42-35752408-10
E-mail: communications@psdf.org.pk

Follow PSDF on Social Media

Website: www.psdf.org.pk
LinkedIn: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF)
Facebook:/punjabskillsdevelopmentfund
Twitter: @PSDF_official
YouTube: /punjabskillsdevelopmentfund

13 اکتوبر
Press Release

امریکانا گروپ نے پنجاب سکلز ڈویلپمنٹ فنڈ (پی ایس ڈی ایف) کے ساتھ ایک مفاہمت کی یاددداشت پر دستخط کیے

The Americana Group, signs a MoU with Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF)

Lahore, Pakistan – One of the Middle East’s largest food manufacturing and distributing company leading restaurant operators, Americana Group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) with the aim of hiring trained workforce from Punjab for their Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) business division, that operates close to 1,900 restaurants in the Region. The agreement was signed between Mr. Sai Gandhi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Americana Restaurant Division and Mr. Jawad Khan, Chief Executive Officer, PSDF at the Americana Group Head Office, Sharjah, UAE.

The two parties are committed to creating a successful long-term partnership and give the youth from Punjab a chance to build their careers with one of the leading organizations in the Middle East. In accordance with the agreement MoU, PSDF will fund the training of the workforce, while The Americana Group will employ them the eligible candidates across their QSRs in UAE and KSA.

Mr. Sai Gandhi, Chief Human Resources Officer, Americana Restaurants Division said, “Our partnership with the Punjab Skills Development Fund is to attract young talent and grow our pipeline for our growing restaurant business.”

Mr. Jawad Khan, CEO, PSDF said, “PSDF is playing a leading role in partnering with the best organizations in the Middle East and helping them meet their skilled workforce needs from Pakistan. After the success achieved with Atlantis The Palm and Rotana Groups in the hospitality sector, PSDF is very proud to partner with Americana and meet their skills needs in the QSR space. We look forward to growing our mandate with Americana in other areas of their business.”

About Americana:

Americana is one of the largest and most successful groups in the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), with capabilities spanning manufacturing, distribution and restaurant operations. Our much-loved brands are present in more than 20 markets globally. For over 50 years, Americana has managed a wide portfolio of well-respected brands across its two Divisions: Restaurants and Food, creating direct jobs for almost 60,000 people, today.

A regional pioneer, Americana introduced the concept of Quick Service Restaurants (QSRs) to the Region with its first restaurant of the kind, Wimpy, in Kuwait in 1970. Today, the Restaurants Division operates 1,900 restaurants, with over 40,000 employees, in 13 markets. Americana is the franchisee of some of the world’s most prominent brands in fast food and casual dining; including KFC, Pizza Hut, Hardee’s, Costa Coffee, Krispy Kreme and TGI Friday’s; to name a few.

About PSDF – A Success Story of Public-Private Partnerships:

Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF) is the largest skills development fund in Pakistan. PSDF was established in 2010 as a not-for-profit company set up under the Companies Ordinance 1984 by the Government of Punjab (GoPb) in collaboration with UK’s Department for International Development (DFID). PSDF also exclusively manages the skills training funding of the World Bank.

PSDF’s purpose is to shape the future and well-being of our poor and vulnerable youth by giving them access to skills training of the highest standard so they can find sustainable employment and income-generating opportunities in Pakistan and beyond.

PSDF started its operations in the 4 poorest districts of Punjab. Since 2016, The geographical remit has expanded to the entire 36 districts of Punjab. PSDF has trained almost 300,000 underprivileged youth across Punjab, which includes 180,000+ male and 110,000+ female graduates. These graduates have been trained in approximately 250 demand-driven and market relevant trades across 10 sectors.

PSDF has played a leadership role in creating a skills training market with 90% training partners in the private sector. With 400 training partners that deliver training on behalf of PSDF, out of which over 150 are businesses across the 10 sectors. PSDF has adopted an output-based funding mechanism where it funds contract-to-completion outputs as well as completion-to-income generation outcomes.

PSDF – Media Enquiries

Communications Team:
Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF),
Contact: +92-42-35752408-10
E-mail: communications@psdf.org.pk

Follow PSDF on Social Media

Website: www.psdf.org.pk
LinkedIn: Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF)
Facebook:/punjabskillsdevelopmentfund
Twitter: @PSDF_official
YouTube: /punjabskillsdevelopmentfund

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