The Sindh Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (STEVTA) on Thursday approved a Rs4.685 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 during its 35th Board of Governors meeting, chaired by Special Assistant to Chief Minister Sindh and STEVTA Chairperson Junaid Buland.
The meeting, held in STEVTA Headquarters Karachi, was attended by Managing Director Tariq Manzoor Chandio, Noor Ahmed Samoo Secretary Information, Science and Technology Department (Via online link), Anwar Ali Shar Additional Secretary Universities and Boards, Muhammad Kamran Arbi, President SITE Association Karachi Industrial community, Shaheen Ilyas Sarwana, President SITE Superhighways Industrial Community, , Abdul Sattar Larik, Abdul Razzaque Memon, Deputy Director National Vocational and Technical Training Commission along with other senior officials and board members.
The board approved key reforms aimed at modernizing the technical education system in Sindh and aligning it with industry needs. A major highlight of the meeting was the approval to digitize the students’ and employment exchange database to improve access, tracking, and placement opportunities for graduates. In a significant policy shift, STEVTA announced that 83 technical institutes across the province will now operate under public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements. Officials said this move is expected to enhance institutional performance and introduce modern training practices.The board also decided to revamp the outdated Diploma of Commerce (D.Com) program, transforming it into a Diploma in E-Commerce in response to growing demand from the digital economy. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were introduced for privately managed STEVTA institutes, aimed at improving governance and accountability. A comprehensive admission policy for all technical and vocational programs was also approved. Meanwhile, STEVTA renewed MoUs for the renewal of the Government Polytechnic Institute’s (GPI) partnership with ZABTech and Pak Suzuki Limited, marking continued collaboration between the public sector and industry.
Speaking in the meeting, Chairperson Junaid Buland stated that the authority is committed to equipping youth with modern skills and fostering industry linkages. “The shift towards digital and e-commerce education reflects our dedication to creating job-ready graduates,” he said. During the meeting, STEVTA Managing Director Tariq Manzoor Chandio emphasized the importance of aligning training programs with current market demands. He revealed that 100 new courses are being launched across the province, developed in close collaboration with industry partners. These courses are set to replace outdated trades that no longer meet the needs of today’s job market. “Our priority is to focus on emerging skills such as Artificial Intelligence, green technologies, and automation-sectors where demand is rapidly increasing,” Mr. Chandio noted. “We are actively updating our curriculum to ensure graduates are not only employable in the local market but also competitive on a global scale.”