250 vocational institutes to be set up, upgraded

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) project for establishing and upgrading 250 vocational training institutes (VTIs) across Pakistan for skill development and the employment of youth.

The project was approved during a meeting held under the chairmanship of secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives.

NAVTTC Executive Director Sajid Baloch briefed the CDWP that NAVTTC project envisages establishing and upgrading 250 vocational training institutes (VTIs) across Pakistan, which will provide income generation and in demand skills to youth. The skilled workforce will also earn precious foreign exchange for Pakistan.

NAVTTC being an apex TVET agency at federal level will be the lead executing agency.

The project aims to help establish state of the art labs in vocational training institutes and equipping youth with latest income generating technical skills such as Artificial Intelligence, e-commerce, robotics, graphic designing, Internet of things, cyber security. In addition, the conventional trades like electrician, plumber, fashion design and beauty parlor.

The government is committed to provide employment to over a million skilled workforces, for local and international job market and uplift socio-economic status of 1.67 million family members through provision of in demand income generating skills.

Many of these new VTIs will also serve as joint testing and certification centers for the NAVTTC - TAKAMOL Saudi Arabia Skill verification programme to test and certify the Pakistani skilled potential emigrants for Saudi Arabia.

NAVTTC initiative would decrease poverty reduction and contribute in socio-economic development of people through enhanced income and livelihood opportunities and empower them.

Furthermore, NAVTTC under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has taken numerous steps to organise TVET system of the country on modern lines.

NAVTTC is delivering training in accordance with the internationally demanded and recognised requirements.

As per details, NAVTTC management has so far imparted training to about 1,00,000 youth, mostly in high-tech trades, with 71% employment rate. Moreover, another batch of 63,000 youth is being given skill trainings through 930 Training partners and reputed universities.

According to the information, 95% youth have expressed satisfaction over the quality of the trainings by NAVTTC. All the provincial government senior representatives attended the CDWP meeting and assured their full support towards the project.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2022.

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