There is a huge demand for skilled manpower in gulf countries and thousands of trained workers can be sent from Punjab to the Gulf States during next few years, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing a high level meeting via video-link at Civil Secretariat on Sunday.
He constituted a steering committee headed by provincial minister for labour for formulating recommendations in this regard.
Speaking on the occasion, he said that thousands of skilled workers are required in the gulf countries for Football World Cup in Qatar and Dubai Expo. He said that there is a need for paying special attention to imparting quality training to skilled workforce by the departments concerned and such courses should be arranged for the youth which are in demand in these countries.
He directed that skilled workforce be developed keeping in view the market needs. He said that departments concerned should contact foreign embassies to acquire information about genuine demands for skilled workers and devise a future strategy in this regard.
He said that due attention should be paid to preparing skilled manpower in order to meet local as well as foreign need.
The meeting reviewed in detail the proposals for sending skilled workers to gulf countries from Pakistan especially Punjab.
Minister for Labour Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, assembly members Saira Iftikhar, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, secretaries of Finance, Planning and Development and Labour departments, TEVTA chairman, PVTC chairman and officers concerned were present in the meeting.