BALKH - A United Nations-supported vocational training and literacy programme has been launched for inmates of the central jail in northern Balkh province.

According to the commander of the prison, Colonel Abdullah Azizi, around 140 detainees, including 60 women, learn dressmaking and embroidery and attend literacy courses as part of the programme.

He said 60 per cent of income from handcrafts would go to prisoners and the remaining would be used as salaries for trainers and purchasing raw materials. A shop would be established outside the prison to put on sale handcrafts of inmates.

One of the detainees, Mohammad Akram, said he would like to learn dressmaking and embroidery skill until his jail term ends.

Source: Pajhwok Afghan News