Technical training helpful in utilizing potential of youth: President

ISLAMABAD, Dec 19 (APP): President Mamnoon Hussain Monday said
acquisition of technical training was necessary for youth to enable
them earn livelihood, end their despondency and promote positive
thinking.
Addressing a prize distribution ceremony of the National
Vocational Training and Technical Commission (NAVTTC) here at the
Aiwan-e-Sadr, the President said “We must give hope to our youth”
and added that both NAVTTC and Prime Minister Youth Skill Programme
could be very useful in this regard.
He said it was the responsibility of every segment of the
society to play its due role in making these programmes successful
and contribute towards national development and progress.
The President urged upon the NAVTTC to focus on Balochistan,
particularly its coastal areas and Gwadar so that the local youth
could accrue maximum benefit from employment opportunities.
He said job opportunities would be created after the
operationalization of the Gwadar deep sea port and the economic
corridor.
He asked NAVTTC to design programmes for training large number
of youth to work in shipping industry and related fields, terming it
a “national service”.
President Mamnoon also expressed satisfaction that NAVTTC was
acting as useful liaison agency between skilled workforce and
business and industrial entities providing employment.
This, he said, would balance the requirement of market for
skilled manpower and facilitate both the youth and the entities in
hiring of skillful workforce. He said placement centres have been
setup in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to facilitate these matters.
He said the NAVTTC’s resolve to establish such centres in
other cities and divisional headquarters was commendable.
The President also urged traders and industrialists to employ
the youth trained by NAVTTC on priority in their required fields. He
said it would put trained and hardworking manpower at their disposal
at reasonable remuneration.
President Mamnoon also appreciated holding of various training
programmes and international conferences for enhancing the scope and
quality of professional training programmes and expressed the hope
that a comprehensive program in this regard would be formulated.
The President termed the youth a great asset of Pakistan and
said they constitute 60 per cent of total population.
“We want to make the youth our strength to realize our
dreams,” he said and added the project under NAVTTC to make the
youth skilful and prepare for practical life was part of this
process.
He said the Youth Skill Development Program by the government,
after passing through different stages had reached the third phase
of training of 25,000 youth and was being completed today.
Mamnoon said the youth after stepping into practical life would not
only be able to shoulder the financial burden of their families, but
would also contribute to the growth of national income and stability.
The President gave away prizes among the winners of skill
competition in different areas including graphic designing, survey
design, information technology, electrician, plumbing, cooking,
fashion designing.
Minister for Professional Training and Education Engineer
Balighur Rehman said the government was focusing on the vocational
training of youth and for the first time in country’s history, had
formulated National Skills Strategy.
He said under the PM’s Skill Development Programme, 25,000
youth were given vocational and technical training, while another
50,000 would be added to the number this year. Next year, about 0.1
million persons would be given training, he added.
He said a pilot project of 12 National Vocational Schools had
been started from sixth grade and onward.
Executive Director NAVTTC Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema said imparting
skilled education to youth could help them bear the responsibilities
of society amicably.
He said vocational training could change the fate of nation if
the government, industrialists and media make this sector a
priority.
He said skill competitions are a source of inspiration for
youth and added that next time, competitions in the areas of high-
tech and heavy machine operators, gardening and house service would
also be held.