The National Vocational & Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC), in collaboration with the Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI), will launch a pilot project to impart training in seven different trades to unemployed and unskilled persons.
The scope of this arrangement would later be expanded to other chambers on successful completion of the pilot-project, Hajji Muhammad Dogar the Regional Director General, NAVTTC Punjab said.
During a meeting Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz, President of FCCI at his office here today, said that NAVTTC has chalked a comprehensive strategy to increase industrial production in addition to adding quality to locally produced products. In this connection, the responsibility to provide trained and skilled manpower will be entrusted to the chambers of commerce.
Citing the steps taken by other developing countries, Hajji Muhammad Dogar said, that they have already begun implementing their strategy and "Pakistan is now making headway in this direction." He said, that at present the job market in Pakistan is primarily dominated by an unskilled and semi-skilled workforce. He also said, that developed countries have declared a technical diploma or certificate mandatory for their workforce and in this regard Pakistan too must frame laws in addition to set-up of technical training facilities across the country.
Dogar also said, NAVTTC has been bearing training costs in addition to providing stipends to the enrolled students at selected technical training centers. But despite the best efforts of the government, the dropout rate at these centers is alarming and he hoped FCCI will introduce a monitoring system to curb the dropout rate.
He said the main reason for high rate of dropouts is the lack of interest by the concerned training staff and assured that he would review the FCCI proposal for withholding of a portion of the scholarship fund which would later be paid to enrolled students on successful completion of training.
He also said, the government is spending a huge amount to impart technical skills to our youth and "It should be our common objective to get maximum benefits from the funds allocated for the purpose by improving quality to our exportable [workforce] surplus," and added, that the objective of short duration technical courses is to enable the workforce to learn relevant trades within a short span to help them earn a livelihood at the earliest.
Earlier, the President of FCCI, Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz said, with a dearth of training facilities and low quality training imparted at the existing facilities most industrial units have to make their own arrangements for imparting technical skills to their unskilled workforce.
While appreciating the government's sincere efforts in providing vocational skills training, Chaudhary Muhammad Nawaz said, the dropout rate at NAVTTC programs is very alarming, despite the government providing scholarships.
He mentioned the efficacy of major industrial units in Faisalabad, adding, that the percentage of successful students at their institutions is almost 100 percent - and this is due to the concerted efforts of the concerned managements.
The FCCI President also expressed his concern over the 40 percent dropout rate at the Government Institute of Textile Technology while the local textile industry is suffering due to dearth of trained workforce and vocational programs of NAVTTC available in Faisalabad were limited. He also added that women comprise 52 percent of our population, but their representation in the job market is a mere 15 percent and stressed dire need to enhance their participation in areas of production.
He further said, the FCCI Research & Development (R&D) Directorate conducted a study to promote both, traditional and non-traditional skills in order to boost our exports.
He also underlined the importance of Prime Minister's Youth Internship Program and said FCCI has also played a key role in placement of internees in private sector institutions.
Executive Member FCCI, Ahmed Hasan added, that most local industrial units face reduced production capabilities due to outdated machinery and obsolete technology. He said that many industrial units are considering launching joint ventures with Chinese entrepreneurs but, then they will also be requiring a highly skilled workforce and therefore we must gear-up our efforts to impart the best possible training to our workforce.
Ahmed Hasan also quoted the directives of Chief Minister Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif and saying, the Punjab Board of Investment was in negotiations with foreign investors to initiate joint ventures with Pakistani entrepreneurs. He said that NAVTTC and other skills training centers must take concrete measures to produce a highly skilled workforce that could then even be exported to the Middle East and other countries were there is high demand for skilled workers and enabling our workers to earn high salaries on par with Filipinos and Bangladeshi workers, he added.
Later, Hajji Muhammad Dogar along with other officials visited Chenab Engineering and other industrial units where workers are being imparted necessary training in collaboration with NAVTTC.
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