DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Social Welfare Department is considering setting up training centres to teach hand-made carpet weaving to deserving people, with the aim of helping them acquire skills and earn a sustainable livelihood.
The proposal came under discussion at a meeting chaired by Adviser to the Chief Minister on Social Welfare, Special Education and Women Empowerment Malik Liaqat Ali Khan here on Thursday.
The meeting was attended by Social Welfare Secretary Sharif Hussain, UNDP representatives Ejaz and Ibrahim, Deputy Director Merged Districts Ubaidur Rehman, Assistant Director Abrar Ahmed and Dr Mahboobur Rehman.
Participants discussed the proposed training centres, methods of training and ways of enabling deserving people to earn a livelihood through carpet-making skills.
Mr Khan said his priority since assuming charge of the Social Welfare Department had been to move beyond providing sewing machines, wheelchairs or cash assistance to deserving people and equip them with skills that could help them become financially independent.
He said hand-made carpet weaving could provide women, persons with disabilities and other deserving groups with an opportunity to learn a skill either at home or at training centres and earn a respectable income.
The adviser said persons with disabilities were no less capable than others and only needed opportunities, appropriate training and guidance. He added that homemakers and children with special needs could also learn carpet-making according to their abilities and contribute to their families’ income.
Mr Khan said a proposal was also under consideration to use zakat and social welfare resources for promoting skills and vocational training instead of limiting them to temporary assistance.
“Our objective is not to keep deserving people dependent on aid, but to make them self-reliant by providing skills, training and employment opportunities,” he said.
He added that the department wanted to provide deserving people not merely with financial assistance but with skills that could bring about a positive and lasting change in their lives.
