German organisation to establish centre of excellence

TEVTA chairman says the centre will not only impart technical education but also make Pakistan self-dependent

LAHORE: Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) has shown interest in establishing the Centre of Excellence in Punjab for the provision of training on solar technology.

While addressing a meeting on Monday at the TEVTA secretariat, Shiekh said that the Centre of Excellence will not only impart technical education on solar technology, but also help make Pakistan self-dependent in the field. “Currently, we are importing solar technology from China and other countries,” he added.

Sheikh said the country was overcoming the energy crisis; however, they will be only able to end problems once authorities moved towards renewable energy resources for electricity generation. He said solar energy was the most important renewable energy resource as unlimited energy can be produced with it.



He said that the solar technology had become common in Pakistan as several industries, factories and houses had converted to this. “With the increasing usage, there is a huge demand of employment in this field as the industry is facing a shortage of people who have expertise in repairing and maintaining solar technology,” he added.

TEVTA chairman said the time had come to train the youth on the repair, maintenance and manufacture of solar technology which would make Pakistan self-dependent in this respective field.

He explained that a meeting was recently held in this regard with GIZ officials as they showed interest in solar technology and wanted to establish a centre of excellence in Punjab in collaboration with TEVTA.

Sheikh noted that feasibility and fact finding has already been completed which would help in selecting the place for this center. Talking about importance of training in solar technology, he observed that this center will not only provide international standard training to youth of Punjab, but also it provide job opportunities after getting training in solar technology. “This proposed center will be a landmark in catering the energy crisis in the country,” he added.

Sheikh said GIZ had already provided training related to solar technology to 3,000 students and trained 72 instructors at 32 institutions.  It also established 24 solar labs across Punjab, he added. “The services of GIZ in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector were commendable as this is the example of Pak-German friendship,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 19^th, 2017.