Key Takeaways:

• Pokhara Metropolitan City will train 120 people free of cost
• Courses cover six sectors including hospitality, caregiving and beauty services
• Twenty participants will be selected for each training programme
• Initiative aims to promote employment, self-employment and entrepreneurship

KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 2 Pokhara Metropolitan City will provide free vocational training to 120 people this fiscal year, aiming to enhance employment opportunities, encourage self-employment and produce skilled workers for sectors facing growing demand. The training programme, run by the metropolitan city's Business Promotion Centre under the Economic Development Division, will cover six fields: waiter and waitress services, caregiving, cooking, barista skills, assistant beautician services and early childhood development. A total of 20 participants will be selected for each course. Depending on the subject, the training will range from 160 to 390 hours. The barista course will run for 160 hours, assistant beautician training for 360 hours, and the remaining courses for 390 hours. Interested applicants can apply by the end of November by submitting the required documents. Business Promotion Centre chief Nawaraj Adhikari said the initiative is designed to equip young people with practical skills that align with labour-market demand, enabling them either to secure employment or establish their own enterprises. The programme is a continuation of similar training conducted in previous years, which municipal officials say yielded encouraging results. Participants are expected to gain opportunities in hospitality, healthcare, beauty services and early childhood education while contributing to local economic growth. As Nepal's tourism capital, Pokhara has seen rising demand for skilled service-sector workers. Officials believe the training programme will help address workforce shortages while reducing unemployment and supporting entrepreneurship.