Daily Times

Skill development should be the top priority for all the political parties as our country’s future lies in skill development, National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Executive Director Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema on Wednesday.

He was addressing a press conference at NAVTTC office.

NAVTTC Executive Director Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema said that special packages should be announced for TVET sector as this will alleviate poverty and boost the economy.

He informed the reporters that NAVTTC has taken far reaching steps to reform skill sector on modern lines; vast majority of youth are becoming financially independent.

“For the first time in the history of Pakistan, National TVET Policy has been approved; collaboration with the industrial sector is strengthened through establishment of Sector Skills Councils,” he claimed.

Cheema further said that nature has blessed Pakistan with a lot of bounties. Human resource among them is the most sustainable and priceless asset.

“The utility of this precious capital has increased further in this region due to the growing importance of Pakistan owing to China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) related mega projects. There is no doubt that successful completion of CPEC projects can only be possible by equipping our youth with marketable skills. Only our skilled youth can generate foreign remittances and make a huge increase in the country’s economy,” he maintained.

He also referred the apex body of Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET) sector in the country, that has taken various initiatives to moderniSe skills sector at par with international standards.

The executive director added that NAVTTC has taken practical steps to make vocational training useful for the youth and is providing world level training to the youth in the most demanded trades.

To take development in skill sector towards the right direction, for the first time in the history of the country, NAVTTC has got the National TVET Policy approved from the cabinet. This policy focuses on the inclusion of technical training in the national priorities, creation of maximum opportunities of technical training in the country, to bring the level of skill sector at par with international standards, adoption of the modern competency based training, enhancing the involvement of Private and Industrial sector and to impart quality training to the youth that could enable them to get employment in the global market.

He further claimed that during the past two years, NAVTTC has taken cogent steps towards increasing collaboration with private sector and the industries.

According to Cheema, renowned industrialists have been invited in this regard to contribute towards an organised and sustainable collaboration. Sector Skills Councils have been established for the first time in the history of the country for this purpose.

These councils have been constituted to guide the youth and enhance collaboration among all the stakeholders. Similarly, Institute Management Committees have been set up to operate technical training institutes on modern lines in an effective way. Appropriate representation has been given to the industrial sector. Additionally, private and industrial sectors have been given enhanced role in raising the quality of technical skills through their active involvement in curriculum development, on-the-job training and devising effective examination and placement system.

Foreign remittance is one of the main pillars of our economy. But sadly, Pakistani youth are employed as unskilled laborer in the global market due to lack of standard training. Skilled workers earn three times more than the unskilled workers, as they are being employed as professionals and experts. Induction of our laborers in skilled category will increase our foreign remittances manifold.

For this purpose, NAVTTC is not only bringing the quality of technical training at par with the international standards, it is also making efforts for wider acceptance of skill certificates from Pakistan in the international arena. Collaboration with internationally acclaimed bodies like City & Guilds, UK-NARIC and TAFE Australia have begun in this regard. These collaborations will pave way for global recognition of Pakistani certificates in international job market.

Published in Daily Times, July 12^th 2018.