Abdul Malik is CEO of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP) in Pakistan. He spoke with the Communications staff of the Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. during a recent visit to Washington, DC.
Q: How does AKRSP address rural-urban migration and poverty?
Abdul Malik: We address this on several levels. First, AKRSP is working on a new program to improve the odds of success for people who migrate between rural and urban areas. With funding from the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (previously called CIDA), we work on youth employability. The project focuses on imparting skills that help young men and women become more employable in local markets. Some of those skills are transferable across sectors – for example, how to present oneself in an interview and how to prepare a CV. I am confident that this initiative will support people who migrate within Pakistan, as well as outside the country.
Ismailimail 