ISLAMABAD, Mar 03 (APP): Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme underscored the centrality of structured, demand driven skills development to Pakistan’s overseas employment strategy as more than 400 trained youth were awarded work visas for placement in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the Prime Minister’s Overseas Employment Programme.
Mr Khan was speaking at the Overseas Employment Visa Award Ceremony organised by the Hazza Institute of Technology in collaboration with the National Vocational and Technical Training Commission at NAVTTC’s Centre of Excellence in Islamabad, where travel documents were handed over to successful trainees.
Addressing the gathering as chief guest, the PMYP chairman said the Prime Minister’s youth vision placed skills, employability and global competitiveness at its core.
He praised NAVTTC and partner institutions for aligning technical training with international labour market requirements and for ensuring transparent skill verification, immigration and placement processes.
Mr Khan said the trainees carried a shared national responsibility, noting that their performance abroad would project Pakistan’s image on the global stage. He described them as ambassadors of the country whose professionalism and conduct would help build trust in Pakistani manpower.
The ceremony marked the overseas placement of more than 400 youth following completion of internationally benchmarked technical training and assessment, aimed at meeting employer demand in Saudi Arabia.
NAVTTC Chairperson Gulmina Bilal Ahmad said the commission was committed to transforming Pakistan’s technical and vocational education system through quality assurance, international accreditation and strong industry linkages.
She said the Prime Minister’s Overseas Employment Programme reflected a shift from conventional training models to market oriented, placement linked skills development.
Executive Director NAVTTC Muhammad Amir Jan outlined the operational framework of the programme, highlighting merit based selection, rigorous training delivery, standardised assessment and efficient visa facilitation.
He said monitoring and compliance mechanisms ensured all trainees met international competency benchmarks prior to deployment.
Hazza Institute of Technology Managing Director Azhar Iqbal Sindhu thanked the federal government and Rana Mashhood Armed Khan for personally steering the initiative from concept to execution, and acknowledged NAVTTC’s strategic guidance.
He reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to maintaining high training standards and timely delivery in support of the national youth empowerment agenda.
Other participants included Member of the National Assembly Anjum Aqeel, Parliamentary Secretary for MoFE and PT Ms Rabia Naseem Farooqi, Senior Joint Secretary Aftab Rashid and Director General Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment Jawed Zia.
The ceremony concluded with a renewed commitment by stakeholders to expand overseas employment pathways for Pakistani youth through quality skills training, institutional collaboration and sustained engagement with global labour markets.