“I have no means of earning here,” cried Naeem Baksh, a resident of Jharkil. “Having no farming land of my own, no money, begging is the only viable option left for me to run my household”.
There are several others in District Khushab sailing in the same boat as Naeem Baksh. The Union councils of Jharkil, Obhal- khai and Radhari, being amongst the most under developed places in the country, offer no employment opportunities to its community. People live a life below poverty line, with many surviving solely on agriculture. As a means to improve the standard of living, and to encourage the women of the Union Council to earn a living, Quaid-e-Millat Foundation embarked upon the project of establishing 3 fully equipped vocational centers, one in each Union Council, with a capacity to train at least 350 beneficiaries in computer and sewing skills. Furthermore, in an effort to support the impoverished people, the Foundation set-up a distribution camp for the provision of in-kind grants to 206 beneficiaries as a support in setting up their own personal businesses.
With USAID’s support, a 9-month grant of $61,153 under the U.S Ambassador’s Fund Program was awarded to Quaid-e-Millat Foundation from 1st March 2011 to 31st December 2011. With SGAFP’s support, Quaid-e-Millat Foundation provided in-kind grants to 206 people of Union Council Jharkil, 56 women and 160 men, to set-up small business ventures for livelihood. In addition, the Foundation established fully equipped vocational centers, one in each Union Council, so as to enhance at latest 350 beneficiaries earning capacity via skills learnt through free vocational training in sewing and computer literacy.
Noor Bakhsh was one of the 206 beneficiaries who was provided with material to set up his own kiryana store. Today, after 8 months since the set-up of his sole proprietorship, Naeem Baksh is living a comfortable life with his family. “ I am grateful to the American people and to our community LSO for encouraging me to become independent and aiding me with supplies for the setting up of my kiryana store”.
