Asian Development Bank (ADB) is going to launch a project involving $ 110 million to train 10 million skilled workers in Punjab during next five years.
Spelling out the details of the proposed project of "Improving Workforce Development in Punjab" (IWDP), Norman LaRocque Principle Education Specialists/Mission Leader told that it will catalyze industry, agriculture as well as socio-economic development of the Punjab province. Addressing the local industrialists in Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce & industry (FCCI), he said that ADB will provide 100 million dollars from ordinary capital resources while Punjab government will contribute in kind assistance of 10 million Dollars. He further told that IWDP will strengthen technical and vocational training sector's ability to support economic growth and job creations in priority areas including export oriented sectors.
Norman told that no doubt Faisalabad is recognized for its iconic textile industry but it also has well established sectors of edible oil, chemicals, food, energy, foundry and many more. He said that despite of prevailing situation, the GDP of Faisalabad is expected to grow at much faster pace in coming years. "Investment in M3 and Allama Iqbal Industrial Estate has necessitated provision of fully skilled human resource instead of unskilled or semi skilled workers", he said and pointed out that there are only 3000 to 4000 technical and vocational training institutes which are insufficient to meet the growing demands of skilled workers. However, the proposed project will concentrate on the improvement of quality of skilled workers and in this connection the industrialists being real stakeholders are being consulted so that there viable suggestions and proposals could be incorporated in it.
He further said that this project is expected to be approved by next year but its midterm review will be conducted next month. He endorsed the proposal of setting up centre of excellence but added that Punjab government is competent authority to approve it.
Earlier in his address of welcome Zafar Iqbal Sarwar Senior Vice President FCCI introduced Faisalabad and FCCI and told that Faisalabad has become hub of industries and economic activities. "It has also privilege to contribute 58 percent towards textile export while its GDP is around 9 percent", he said and added that Pakistan is blessed with ample human resource of productive age which should be equipped with technical and vocational skills so that it could contribute its role in the overall economic growth of Pakistan.
He also mentioned China Pakistan Economic Corridor related projects and said that we must train highly skilled man power instead of producing half cooked semi skilled workers. He mentioned a long 'Chain' of textile and said that each sector has its own specific needs and requirements and workers must be trained for each sector to fulfill the needs of new hi-tech industry being established in Faisalabad. He also underlined the need of "right person for right job" and said that we must take measures to provide fully skilled workers for emerging industrial sector.
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