Punjab govt aims to train a million youth in skills

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target of providing skills training to one million youth.over the next three years.

Chairing a meeting on Sunday, the chief minister received a briefing on ongoing and proposed skill development projects and approved initiatives to expand technical and vocational training across the province.

A decision to establish Punjab's first modern Woodworking Centre of Excellence was approved. Centres of excellence of electrical work, vehicle technology and digital marketing will also be set up.

Certification programmes for agriculture and heavy machinery operators were also approved in the meeting.

The chief minister also approved the launch of a programme under which courses in 13 languages will be offered.

The province's first cleaning and cleaner academy will also be established to provide professional training in healthcare, hospitality and domestic services.

The participants were informed that skills training had been completed for 400,000 young people in the province, with more than 45 per cent securing employment, while many others had opted to continue their education. The trained youth who have secured employment include over 38,000 who have found jobs abroad. About 113,333 youths have completed training in manufacturing, with more than 50,000 securing immediate employment. In the IT sector, 111,607 young people received training, of whom 49,588 were earning through employment. Similarly, 23,269 people completed training in agriculture and livestock, with 10,033 securing jobs. In the construction sector, 27,069 received training and 12,026 found employment, while 35,227 were trained in the energy sector, of whom 15,651 secured jobs. A total of 15,319 trainees completed hospitality and tourism courses, with 6,807 securing immediate employment.

It was revealed that 90,029 trained youths had secured jobs in local industries, 53,509 had opted for self-employment and 38,557 had obtained employment abroad. Another 39,325 chose to continue their education.

Under the Empowering Women through Information Technology Programme, 3,000 women in rural areas are earning from home after completing training. The department had also provided industry-related, management, teaching and skills-upgradation training to 15,065 teachers and staff members.