Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that future of Pakistan is linked with the technical education. He said that by equipping the young generation with modern knowledge not only the problem of unemployment can be overcome but also the country can be put on the road to progress.
He directed that steps should be taken speedily for promotion of technical education in the province and public-private partnership should be promoted in this regard. He stressed that a practicable and transparent policy be formulated and presented within next few days for that purpose which may comprise steps like provision of incentives to private sector for the promotion of modern technical education.
He was presiding over a meeting held here on Saturday to review the initiatives taken for the promotion of technical education in the province. Elected representatives, Chairman, Institute for Special Initiatives, Additional Chief Secretary, Secretary Industries and concerned officers attended the meeting. Chairman Punjab Vocational Training Council Faisal Ejaz Khan gave a detailed briefing with regard to implementation of various programmes and future strategy for the promotion of technical education in the province. Addressing the meeting, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that Punjab government is pursuing a comprehensive strategy for the promotion of technical education in the province.
He said that TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council have been made vibrant and dynamic institutions and these have been given the target of preparing skilled manpower keeping in view the demands of the market. He said that Pakistan is one of those countries where the bulk of their population comprised of youths and the dream of rapid development and prosperity of the country can be materialised by providing modern education, information technology and imparting them training in various trades according to the needs of the market.
He said that various programmes of equipping the male and female students with technical education are being conducted through TEVTA and Punjab Vocational Training Council in the province. Moreover, a special training programme has also been chalked out for making as many as 148,500 youths skilled under which six months' technical training would be imparted to the youth throughout the province, he disclosed. He directed that the programme of imparting training to 1.5 lakh youths should be implemented speedily.
He said that besides government efforts for equipping youth with technical education, the participation of private sector is also of great importance and such a model should be prepared in this regard under which incentives should be given to private sector and subsidy to the students getting technical education in private sector.
He directed that a solid strategy should be evolved jointly for this purpose and chambers of commerce and industry should also be included in this process. Earlier, Chairman Punjab Vocational Training Council Faisal Ejaz Khan while informing about the implementation of various programmes of technical education in the province, disclosed that the six months' training programme in various trades for 100,500 youth in the province has been given a final shape and biometric system has also been introduced for the attendance of students in technical educational institutions. Participants of the meeting put forth their suggestions with regard to participation of private sector and promotion of technical education.
Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that transparency is the hallmark of Punjab government and quality, transparency and timely completion of all development projects are being ensured. He said that besides improving the infrastructure, an effective strategy is being implemented for providing best transport facilities to the masses.
He said that a bus service has been launched in Lahore for providing comfortable and affordable transport facilities to the people in this regard and its scope is being extended gradually in all districts of the province. He said this during a meeting with Quarter Master General, Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani, here today in which implementation of development schemes in the province and the project of refurbishing old buses with the co-operation of National Logistic Cell were discussed. Member Provincial Assembly Mehr Ishtiaq Ahmad, Director General National Logistic Cell, Secretary Communication and Works and Director General LDA were also present in the meeting.
Talking on this occasion, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif said that all resources are being utilised for the provision of best transport facilities to the people. He said that the performance of NLC for completion of development projects is commendable and Kalma Flyover and other projects of infrastructure are a candid proof of it.
He said that the projects of Muslim Town Flyover and widening of Lahore Canal Road are being executed speedily. He said that urban transport project has been launched in the provincial metropolis and modern CNG buses have been imported from a leading Chinese company, Foton whereas in the second phase an agreement of 575 buses has also been made with Ankai Company and besides Lahore these buses would also be plied in other big cities of the province.
He said that in addition to new buses, a project of refurbishment of old buses is also being implemented and under this programme 300 buses are being refurbished, out of which, 75 buses would start plying on various routes this month. He said that NLC is also extending co-operation for refurbishment of old buses. He also inspected a bus refurbished with the co-operation of NLC on this occasion. Quarter Master General Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani also presented a key of this bus to the Chief Minister on this occasion.
Earlier, a team of Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) called on the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif and presented a study report conducted with regard to Lahore Urban Transport Plan 2020-2030 to him which included steps like Rapid Mass Transit System (RMPS), Bus Rapid Service (BRS) and traffic management keeping in view the future requirements.
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