- Shahbaz lauds role of TEVTA in upgrading technical skills of youth, announces interest-free loans for four thousand skilled youth
The youth is the future of Pakistan and it is the government’s responsibility to make future of the country and the nation bright, said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif while addressing the inaugural ceremony of 2-day Skills Expo and Job Fair- 2015 arranged by Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) at Lahore International Expo Centre on Saturday.
Provincial ministers Muhammad Shafiq, Raja Ashfaq Sarwar, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, secretaries Labour, Industry, Information, Punjab Skills Development Fund chief executive, consul generals of America and China, TEVTA Chairman Irfan Qaiser Sheikh and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
Shahbaz announced to give interest-free loan worth Rs 75,000 each to four thousand skilled youth.
He said that these loans will be distributed among skilled youth completing training with the collaboration of TEVTA and Akhuwat for which Rs 500 million have been allocated.
“The aim of this excellent programme is to provide honourable jobs to the skillful youth,” he said, adding that the provision of resources for empowering youth through technical training is a useful investment and good news of bright future.
He said that development goals cannot be achieved without empowering youth comprising 60 percent population.
He said that TEVTA is playing an important role for preparing skilled manpower as per the market needs and promotion of technical education. He said that there will be revolution of skill development to the efforts of this institution.
He said that holding of skills expo by TEVTA is an excellent step and this is the first and unique programme of its kind in the last seven years. He congratulated minister for industry, TEVTA chairman, secretary Industry, board of governors of TEVTA, trainers, master trainers and the students for holding the expo. He said that the institutions like TEVTA, PVTC and Skill Development Company are playing effective role in preparing skilled manpower and their programmes fully reflect vision of the government.
The chief minister said that the government is paying special attention to skill development and this exhibition will be helpful in preparing skilled manpower.
“Instead of spending money on buildings, equipping the male and female students with technical education is the vision of the government and this is the only way to take Pakistan forward,” he said, adding that image of the country will be enhanced by making the youth skilled in agriculture, industry and other sectors according to the market demands and TEVTA is working most effectively in this regard.
He said that preparation of manpower with quality training is of great importance for the stability of the country and achieving the production targets. He said that more skilled manpower will be helpful for strengthening the economy. He said that it was impression in the past that big population increases problems, create hindrance in the development, however, although 60 percent population of the country comprising youth is a big challenge yet we have to change this challenge into opportunity and move forward by accepting this challenge.
He said that youth will be empowered through vocational training programmes and Pakistan will be put on the road to progress and prosperity. He said that there has been no coordinated contact of industry, agriculture and other sectors of economic development with the vocational training institutions in the history of the country and all matters have been dealt individually due to which skilled force could not be prepared according to the market requirements.
