Governor Punjab Lieutenant General Khalid Maqbool (Retd) has urged the vocational and training institutes to focus on short-term diploma courses besides degree programmes to provide much needed skilled manpower for the local industry.
Chairing the sixth board meeting of Faisalabad Institute of Textile and Fashion Design University Trust (FITFDUT) here on Tuesday, he said government was encouraging establishment of training and vocational institutes to cater to the needs of domestic industry.
"Government College University (GCU) Faisalabad has already introduced a number of industry related programs", he said and added ultimate beneficiary of those programme would also be the industry.
Khalid Maqbool said FITFDU should affiliate with any internationally reputed foreign institute to produce world-class experts in various disciplines of textile and Fashion Garment.
"Trustees should conduct foreign tours to explore reputed institutes and seek its affiliation to further improve the curriculum, facilities and performance of the FITFDU.
He asked the board of trustees to prepare separate projects to seek financial help from provincial as well as federal governments. Multan Handloom Institution had already been elevated as Textile College, and federal commerce minister Hamayun Akhtar was also willing to support the FITFDU, he added.
He hoped FITFDU would also arrange a fashion exhibition to attract foreign buyers.
Chairman Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) Faiq Jawad, Former Chairman PTEA Azhar Majeed Sheikh, District Nazim Chaudhary Zahid Nazir, City Nazim Chaudhary Mumtaz Ali Cheema, Asim Khurshid, Aasm-ul-Haq, Monoo Bhai, Afsar Sajid, DIG Abid Saeed, District Co-ordination Officer (DCO) Tahir Hussain and DPO Amin Wiance also attended the function.