NIP received over 21,000 applications from unemployed youth
By Bushra Makhdoom

ISLAMABAD—The National Internship Programme (NIP) has received over 21,000 applications from unemployed postgraduates during the 14 days whereas two weeks are still left for submission of particulars.
Director General of NIP, Ashiq Hussain Abbasi, told APP that the applicants include 12,643 male and 7,954 female who applied online cross the country.
He said that 357 applications have been received from the federal capital, 9003 from Punjab, 3795 from NWFP, 6584 from Sindh, 218 from Balochistan, 115 from Northern Areas, 320 from FATA and 205 applications had been received from Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said,” It is very encouraging that 22 female also applied from FATA in this programme”.
The government has allocated Rs 1500 million for this programme for financial year 2007-08, he said. He said that according to the feedback received so far from various organizations, the internees were very punctual and dilligent while performing their duties. He termed the news of extension of the NIP programme as baseless and said that it was only for one year and there would not be any extension in it.
The NIP provides a golden chance to the unemployed postgraduates where they can learn and share their experience in different organizations, he added.
Ashiq Hussain Abbasi, said that all those who have completed 16 years of education from HEC’s recognized universities or degree awarding institutions can apply for the programme. He said that the scheme besides keeping the fresh graduates engaged in creative work aimed at providing financial relief to them. He informed that every year, over 50,000 youth complete 16 years of education from recognized universities and degree awarding institutions in Pakistan. But a considerable gap in completion of education and job availability, majority of cases result in a sense of frustration and waste of potential energy among the educated youth, he added.