The Philip Morris (Pakistan) Limited (PMPKL) Leaf (PK-Leaf) has successfully completed another round of Skills Training Project (‘Project’) for the year 2024. The PK-Leaf undertakes the Project for children of its contracted tobacco farmers every year. The Project is usually organized between June to August, at a time when the children are free during summer vacations and may fall prey to child labor at tobacco farms considering the period coincides with peak tobacco seasonal harvesting and curing activities. Under the Project, children learn basic knowledge on trade skills and undergo practical sessions to acquire customized electrician and tailoring skills. The children are also provided with weekly additional sessions on agriculture/horticultural science (grafting/budding in plants etc.) and basic health and hygiene for boys, and food processing and preservation (preparing fruit syrups, vegetable puree etc.) and basic health and hygiene for girls to add to their learning acumen. This year, the Project’s closing ceremony was held in Swabi on 29th August 2024 (Thursday) which was attended by PK-Leaf management, and Project’s implementing partner DragonFly Agriculture.

Training completion certificates and shields were awarded to 896 children (448 boys and 448 girls) completing building electrician and tailoring courses, respectively. The graduating trainees were also provided with hardware to continue practicing the learnt skills, including a building electrician tool kit for boys, and sewing machine for girls. The ceremony also hosted an exhibition of the products and projects prepared by the training participants which showcased their prowess and knowledge acquired during the Project. Addressing the participants, the Manager Social Sustainability Mr. Syed Muhammad Suleman Gul said, “Since 2021, the project has provided skills trainings to more than 3,000 children, equipping them with valuable skills and encouraging them to go for self employment and small-scale entrepreneurships in their future. A number of case studies conducted on the project reveal how trainees of the project go after self employments as soon as they step into adulthood.

Thanks to the well thought customized training curriculum design that addresses the growing demand for skilled workforce and to support the communities by enhancing employability and career growth opportunities in local market”. The Head of Leaf, Mr. Abid Javed said, “Sustainability lies at the core of our overall operations. We are thrilled to see the positive impact this project has had on our community. The success stories of training participants are a testament to the importance of skills training in their life. The Skills Training Project is not only protecting children from child labor activities but is also aimed at empowering tobacco farmers’ children with the necessary skills to thrive in their career and be prepared for today’s competitive job market. We remain committed to fostering a sustainable business environment in Pakistan that is contributing to the development of children, skills enhancements, and activities at large that benefit our tobacco farmers on social, environmental, and economic fronts”.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan