Out with the old, in with the new

Manufacturing units need trained workforce to deal with industry requirements

LAHORE/ KARACHI: With technical training and skill development increasingly becoming the key to the country’s economic progress, industries relying on the old ways risk losing market share, especially in light of ever-changing needs.

The need to focus on vocational and technical education is now greater than ever. Pakistan Association of Automobile Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Chairman Mashood Ali Khan tells The Express Tribune that having a skilled workforce is one of industry’s basic requirements and there is a need to work with the technical and vocational education training (TVET) sector.



“Instead of paying attention towards acquiring a skilled workforce, most factories focus on pairing young interns working with an adept technician. Locally this is known as an ustaad-shaagird (teacher-student) relationship. “We need a skilled workforce as it will enable us to meet higher demand and increased the workload,” he says.

He says the domestic auto industry has a lot of potential. According to a rough estimate, 245,000 cars, 8,000 trucks and buses, 50,000 tractors and 2.2 million motorcycles are currently being manufactured every year. The industry has grown 30% in 2017 compared to last year. “Our basic requirement is skilled human resources, which we don’t have. The [output of the] car industry will be doubled by 2020,” he maintains.



Discussing ways and means to work effectively, he says although it is not possible for the TVET sector to interact with industries individually, it can work through associations such as PAPAAM, which has 300 members across the country. Such associations must work with the TVET sector to meet the demands of a skilled workforce. The public sector will have to be involved with such associations if they are truly interested in solving these issues. “We need to develop a plan if we want to see our industry [developing and progressing] in five or 10 years.”

Pakistan Vocational Training Council Public Relations and Marketing Manager Bushra Nawaz tells The Express Tribune that industries do not cooperate with TVET sector as much as needed. She adds associations do not have time to build a continuous work relationship.

In order to meet the industry’s demand for a skilled workforce, the TVET Sector Support Programme, working since 2011, is extending its support to train 3,550 teachers, 1,500 assessors, 500 principals from public schools and  a 48,500-strong workforce, of which 30% it is hoped will be women.

The TVET Sector Support Programme, which is funded by the European Union as well as the governments of Germany and Norway, aims to scale up the reform process based on the national TVET policy and the National Vocational Qualifications Framework (NVQF). The programme specifically focuses on enhancing the engagement of the private sector in TVET planning and delivery.

Changing entrepreneurs’ mindset

One of the biggest hurdles in this regard is that industries do not train youngsters, fearing they will leave if they get better opportunities and their investment will be lost, Khan says.

In 2013, PAPAAM set up skill development centres in Karachi and Lahore. The association organised at least 90 seminars and workshops.

“We mainly trained entrepreneurs and tried to change their mindset, telling them that in addition to providing soft-skill training, there is a need to provide staff with vocational training because our industry is growing and skilled human resources are unavailable,” he adds.

“I even said that if your trained staff leaves after getting a better job, the country will ultimately benefit as these people will still be working in it.”

Skilled workforce

“If we want a skilled and confident workforce, it should be sent to industries for internships “When we buy a car, we don’t know how to drive. We learn, and after (some) practice, we are able to drive on roads,” Mashood Ali Khan says. “The same is the case with fresh graduates.”



Advising technical trainees to initiate discussions with industries, he says it is essential to send students for at least a six-month-long training programme so that they get hands-on experience before they actually start their careers. He adds if students spend six months in the industry, they will be aware of the work environment and gain confidence too.

Adopting new ways

Khan says skilled manpower can only be developed with willingness. In industries, most of the work is done manually. “In the near future, when new companies from China and Thailand set up plants, they will look for a skilled workforce and won’t find them. Our entrepreneurs are not prepared for this.”

He laments that now everything is being done through software while we are still using traditional modes in industries. “The time is not far when we won’t be (able to run) industries or (enter new) markets because of our traditional modes of working. If demand increases and we are unable to meet deadlines, we will lose markets.”

Competency-Based Training and Assessment (CBT&A)

When asked if the industries realised which skill sets to develop through CBT&A system and skilled workforce, Khan says out of 300 companies associated with PAAPAM, 70% are SMEs and only 30% are major companies. “Only large companies have five-year plans and targets. SMEs cannot even plan to induct 100 students in a year and this is why they do not take initiatives and rely on manual methods,” he stressed. He adds it is, therefore, difficult for them to trust trained students so there is an acute trust deficit.

Bushra Nawaz says the youth in Pakistan comprise 60% of the country's total population and we are not doing enough to produce a skilled workforce. “It is not the government’s top priority either.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2017.