Changing fates: Lyari torture cell building to become vocational training centre

Gangsters occupied the abandoned building during restive times

KARACHI: After being used as a torture cell by 'gangsters' for six years, the building of Abdullah Haroon Vocational Training Centre in Khadda Market will now be used for the real purpose it was built for - rehabilitate the youth of Lyari.

The vocational training institute, which is working under the umbrella of Sindh Technical and Vocational Authority, is in the process of revival after being non-functional for a long time. The institute was used by Ustad Taju group of gangsters as a torture cell, while before that students from Haji Abdullah Haroon Government College used the building for political activities. The building, which was built around 25 years ago, had been non-functional even before Lyari gang war started.

The group of gangsters used the building to keep people they had kidnapped for ransom during the time of gang-war. The same rooms, which were once torture cells, are now being used for rehabilitation of Lyari youth. The vocational centre set up in the building has various departments and courses, including courses for electrician, welding, carpenter, auto-mechanic and machinist.



"The centre had become a symbol of fear and people were scared to even cross the street [where it's located]," said Abdul Latif Dorai, a social worker from Lyari and a member of the centre's Institute Management Committee (IMC). Three years ago, when the situation of the area improved after the Lyari operation, the social workers contacted the management and formed the IMC. Initially, in late 2013, only computer classes were started but they gradually introduced web designing and basic visual programme courses. "When we formed the IMC, we decided to start a project to revive the centre," said IMC head Abdul Ghani, who is also a corporate social responsibility coordinator and ICI Pakistan Limited public relations manager.

The committee decided to start an electrical wiremen short course of three months to revive the centre. The pilot project was sponsored by the ICI where 20 young men were registered, who were previously working at small shops as electricians. From them, 12 managed to pass the basic test that was conducted after the completion of the course, Ghani said, adding that the students will be awarded certificates and tool kits as a token of appreciation.



In addition to this, Dorai has also introduced three-month-long programmes for girls, including stitching, cutting, sewing, beautician, computer and English language courses. "There are around 120 girls in all the courses," said Dorai. For the stitching and beautician courses, the centre is charging Rs200 fee per month, while for information technology and English language courses the institute is charging Rs300 per month. A total of 48 teachers had been appointed by the government for the vocational centre. However, only 12 teachers come to the institute and provide their services. The teachers hired for the courses are paid Rs5,000 to Rs10,000, keeping in consideration their experience.

The aim behind reviving the centre and to introduce courses is to promote literacy and provide useful skills to the youth of Lyari, said Ghani. He added that when the youngsters will engage themselves in positive activities and will become the bread earners for their families, Lyari will become more peaceful and its negative perception will be changed. "It will not happen overnight but it will happen if people come forward, focus on their needs and help them recover from the aftermaths of the war," he said.

Dorai believes that the vocational centre is the best place to socialise and make friends instead of sitting outside and getting involved in bad things. The centre is also helpful for girls to engage in activities instead of sitting at home, he added. Their target is to restore all the laboratories and workshops at the centre for which the committee will start training students for diploma programmes that will begin from January. Other than the training, the centre also does counselling by inviting guest speakers to motivate students and encourage them to go for better living standards.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2016.