US Creating Job Opportunities For Pakistani Youths- Says Consul General

MULTAN ,May 24– The U.S. Consul General in Lahore Yuriy Fedkiw and USAID Provincial Director Alyson McFarland visited Multan, one of the oldest cities in South Asia, to highlight ongoing U.S.-Pakistan cooperation on interfaith harmony and cultural heritage, as well as building skills for Pakistan’s growing youth population.
“Musa Pak’s teachings call for tolerance and coexistence,” said Consul General Fedkiw, who paid his respects at the shrine of Abdul Hassab Musa Pak Shaheed. Consul General Fedkiw further added, “Musa Pak’s message of universal love is inspiring.”

During his visit to the City of Sufis,Spiritual saints Consul General Fedkiw met with former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani and custodian of the Musa Pak shrine Makhdoom Wajahat Hussein Gillani, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to working with Pakistan to advance shared goals for peace and stability in the region. Consul General Fedkiw also met with the Commissioner of Multan, Mr. Bilal Ahmad Butt, and members of the governing body of the Multan Press Club during his tour of the city.

Consul General Fedkiw and USAID Provincial Director McFarland also toured the Government Technical Training Institute in Multan. The institute currently hosts the U.S. government-funded Punjab Youth Workforce Development (PYWD), a $13.9 million, three-year project to train youth in Multan, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, and Bahawalpur. The project is designed to encourage employment opportunities for 10,000 young men and women.

The Consul General highlighted his appreciation of the rich culture, history, and dynamism of Multan and its youth. The U.S. government continues to provide a range of assistance to Pakistan to preserve and restore the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Since 2009, the U.S. Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation has provided more than $70,000 to restore shrines in Multan, including Musa Pak Shaheed and Shah Shams Tabraiz.

This work was completed by talented local craftsmen, under the supervision of archeological experts, using traditional methods. US Consul General Yuriy Fedkiw on Wednesday said that America was creating job opportunities in Pakistan and had imparted vocational training to over 10,000 young boys and girls. He expressed these views while talking to media after arrival at Multan Press Club. He informed that for getting these young people employed, they would negotiate with Chambers of Commerce and Industries of the country.

Mr Yuriy stated that by imparting vocational training to the youth, job opportunities could be created for them. He said that he liked Mangoes of Multan and Blue pottery, adding that he was much pleased to visit Multan. Multan was the one of the oldest cities in the world, the Consul General said and added that it was city of saints.

President Multan Press Club Shakeel Anjum presented a shield to the US Consul General. Among others Secretary General Press Club Mirza Nadeem Ahmad, Finance Secretary Farhan Mulghani were present on the occasion.  Former Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan has very long partnership with United States and both the countries have consensus on different issues including combating against terrorism.

Talking to journalists at his residence after the visit of Lahore US Consulate General Yuriy Fedkiw to Musa Pak shrine on Wednesday, the former premier said that Pakistan has very close liaison with United States on the common agenda against extremism. He said Pakistan had killed numbers of high valued targets in collaboration with US and fighting against terrorism, extremism as front line state for PPP (peace, prosperity and progress) around the world.    

In reference of his talk with US Consulate General, he said that he had conveyed people’s sentiments about US perception. Majority of people think that US perception is contradictory on different issues with Pakistan, which need to improve. He said the United States must realize sacrifices of Pakistan rendered at the cost of world peace. The thousands soldiers  and innocent people of Pakistan had sacrificed for peace and United States realize those sacrifices in developing ties with Pakistan.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said that the last PPP government had reinstated and rehabilitated 2.5 million homeless people in result of Sawat operation in KPK in short span time of 90 days under his leadership when he was Prime Minister. All the displaced and homeless people settled in their respective homes honorably due to good governance.

Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said that Pakistan has been very sensitive on India, which needs regional balance in south Asia.

Talking on root cause to extremism, he said backwardness and poverty are the two main root causes of promoting extremism and militancy in the country. He said serious efforts are needed today for the elimination of militancy and extremism

Responding to a query on PPP politics, he said PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was busy in party reorganization and he is holding each district meeting on daily basis to complete democratic electoral process in the party.

Earlier, Lahore US Consulate General Yuriy Fedkiw reached Multan on Wednesday morning by driving car from Lahore to Multan. The USAID country director was also accompanied with him. The US Counselor General visited Hazrat Musa Pak shrine and performed tradition of lying ‘Chadar’ on grave. He captured a picture of mosque. He also met with Sajjada Nasheen of shrine Makhdoom Wajahat Hussein Gillani and left for Gillani house where he interacted journalists.