Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that a comprehensive programme for massive vocational training is on the anvil in view of the growing demand for skilled manpower by the industrial sector. He was speaking at the foundation-stone laying ceremony, held at the Governor House on Sunday, by unveiling the plaque to be installed at the Quaid Sessi Medical and Dental College.
The proposed medical college would be constructed on three acres land available in the premises of 350-bed Site Hospital, Karachi.
The Prime Minister said that he would like to increase the numbers of trained and skilled manpower in the country so that the small and medium enterprise could grow at a faster pace.
He said that unless SMEs grew at a fast pace the industrial pace would continue to remain slow. "We want our industry and commerce to grow and increase its competitiveness. For this purpose availability of trained workforce was indispensable," he said.
Shaukat talked about the growth of infrastructure and pace of development of small businesses and emphasised the need for training in all fields, including construction, engineering and service industries.
Analysing the process of influx in Karachi, he said that on the one hand there was shortage of skilled human resources and on the other people in the city were reluctant to get training in skill development.
"From smaller towns people with different skills come to Karachi in search of jobs. They get jobs, whereas the local graduates continue to remain unemployed. In fact, it has created a situation where on the one hand there is unemployment among educated youth and on the other jobs in industry are lying vacant, for skilled and trained people."
These jobs are being filled by those who have some skill and on-job training in one vocation or the other and have a rural background.
He said that the phenomenon could be reversed only after vocational training centres are set up and training on the basis of market needs is imparted.
Shaukat Aziz said that construction industry is short of skilled labour. Masons, carpenters and plumbers are in demand. "The construction industry representatives have offered to set vocational training centres to meet their requirements. If this happens, there would be more jobs and more economic activity in the country."
He said that employment of each skilled man means expansion in economic activity, creation of more jobs and progress in the sector.
The prime minister said that vocational skill gap could only be filled through on-job training and opening of vocational training centres.
He said that to make such centres effective there should be public-private partnership in setting up vocational centres. "The government is willing to contribute its share of resources. The private sector should now come forward and think about playing its role."
He said that it was due to shortage of trained nurses, technicians and public health personnel that many hospitals and basic health units were unable to provide healthcare services.
Aziz said many BHUs and hospitals were lying ineffective. "There is improper arrangement of sewerage /drainage and disposal of waste. The need is to correct the situation and put non-functional services to proper use."
He said that doctors are reluctant to go to rural areas to serve the people. They should be motivated and given incentives for such postings, he added.
The prime minister said that "our labour is our asset" and for this reason their wages should be judicious.
He appreciated the work done by the provincial labour, industries, commerce and transport minister, Adil Siddiqui, and said that the setting up of a medical college was needed to promote quality medical education.
The prime minister said that all issues pertaining to the college should be properly discussed and sorted out before commencing classes. "There may be motives but honesty and sincerity of purpose should prevail. Merit should be the guiding principle in matters of education, employment and decisions of public importance."
Earlier, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan said that the Chief Minister and his team were concentrating on overall development in the province.
He said that there were challenges and obstacles and the sailing was not that smooth as it might look. "Despite problems, we are determined to move forward--and that we are doing."
He said that Karachi is a vibrant city and to keep its vibrancy a lot of effort is needed.
Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim said that the decision to set up the Quaid Sessi Medical and Dental College should be taken with care. It would be too early to say how it would be built and what ways and means would be adopted to manage its day to day affairs.
He said that it was yet to be decided how admissions would be given; what percentage of children would get free education; whether the college would be only for those who live in Karachi; what kind of merit would be adopted for admission; and how its faculty would be appointed and who would regulate their day to day functions.
The chief minister said that the proposal of college yet needed critical examination.
Sindh Minister for Labour, Transport, Industries and Commerce Adil Siddiqui said that the proposed medical college would cater to the needs of the children of registered/enrolled workers of the Sessi. All admissions would be on merit. The college would be constructed at a cost of Rs 81 million, which Sessi would provide.
Siddiqui said that setting up a nursing college, to award BSc degree in Nursing, would follow the Quaid SESSI Medical and Dental College. There would also be established a vocational training institute for automobile sector soon.
Among others, Sindh Assembly Speaker Muzaffar Hussain Shah, Sindh Minister for Planning Shoaib Bukhari, Minister for Mineral Development Irfanullah Khan Marwat, MPA Manzoor Panhwar, Minister for Women Development Dr Saeeda Malik, Home Minister Rauf Siddiqui, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information Salahuddin Haider were also present.