Skilled manpower: 1,200 complete three-month LTV driving course

As many as 40,000 TEVTA pass-outs to get jobs this year

LAHORE/SHEIKHUPURA:

The Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) would place 40,000 of its pass-outs in industry jobs this year, TEVTA Chairperson Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a parade ceremony organised for 1,200 pass-outs of a three-month light transport vehicle (LTV) driving course in Sheikhupura. Law Minister Rana Sanaullah was the chief guest. Federal Parliamentary Secretary Alamdad Lalika, Parliamentary Secretary Rana Muhammad Arshad, Motorway Police IG Saleem Bhatti and TEVTA Chief Operating Officer Jawad Ahmad Qureshi were also present.

The TEVTA has opened doors for the jobless poor to get trained and become a disciplined force, Sanaullah said. “There will always be naysayers…but you must not lose hope.”

He said that Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had been scheduled to attend the passing out ceremony but had been unable to do so due to security reasons.

IG Bhatti said, “It is an important day in the history of Motorway Police that 1,200 young men from all districts in the province will start their practical life after getting training from the Motorway Police.” He said these drivers had not only been trained professionally but had also been given basic training in behavioural change, computers, personal hygiene, discipline and drills.

Sheikh said that several Middle Eastern countries required a trained manpower. The TEVTA has, therefore, started the driving course with the collaboration of National Highways and Motorway Police. He said participants of the course were given training free of charge at 36 Road Training Institutes of the NHMP in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Gujrat, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Sheikhpura, Lahore, Okara, Khanewal, Multan, Bahawalpur, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Khushab, Sargodha, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Narowal, Kasur, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Sahiwal, Vehari, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan. He said the second phase of the programme had already started at these institutes.

Sheikh said more than 350 pass-outs had been offered jobs by local and multinational companies. More companies have promised jobs, he said.

“Technical education and vocational training should be a priority these days. Pakistan’s industrial and agricultural development depends largely on the availability of skilled manpower,” the TEVTA chief said.

Sheikh said the TEVTA had started demand-driven short courses for the unemployed educated youth to help them get jobs. The courses have been started in consultation with the relevant industries. “For availing early employment opportunities, the youth should get admission at TEVTA institutes. A skilled force is the reason behind our earning millions of dollars through export of agriculture, textiles and trained manpower,” the TEVTA chairperson said.

He said the TEVTA had recently signed agreements with some British organisations to provide training to the youth from the Punjab.

Twelve drivers faint during event

A dozen drivers fainted during the passing out parade. After coming to, they said that they had been waiting for the chief guests to arrive since 7am without breakfast. The doctors who examined them said they had low blood pressure.

TEVTA officials said that Sanaullah had taken notice of this and had demanded an explanation from police authorities.

Security threat: Suspect arrested at the passing out parade 

A man suspected of having ties with a proscribed outfit was taken into custody at the Technical and Vocational Training Authority’s passing out parade on Thursday.

Sheikhupura DPO Sohail Zafar said a young man, identified as Sajid, impersonating a TEVTA official was arrested at the Motorway Interchange Training Centre, Kot Ranjeet. He said SP Jawad Tariq had ordered his arrest. The man is being held for investigation.

TEVTA Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, Motorway IG Muhammad Saleem were present at the event. Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was slated to attend it but Law Minister Rana Sanaullah filled in for him instead and handed out certificates to the 1,200 drivers who had completed the training course.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2016.