The board of directors of Technology Up-gradation and Skill Development Company (Tusdec) Saturday approved the establishment of CAD/CAM centres in Peshawar, Gujranwala and Lahore to impart training to youth in computer-aided designing and manufacturing techniques.
The Lahore centre would also provide 'train the trainers' facility. The meeting presided over by Chairman Tusdec, Almas Hyder was attended among others by Joint Secretary Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives, Tahir Shahbaz and private sector board members, Asad-ur-Rehman, Faisal Farooq, Hakimuddin F. Daud, Imtiaz Ali Rastgar, Muhammad Imtiaz Ahmad and Rana Shahzad Hafeez.
"The establishment of the CAD/CAM centres will help Pakistan's industry shift to digital-based manufacturing from the existing skill-based one," Almas Hyder said.
He said that youth trained from these centres would ultimately contribute to production of quality products in line with international market trends.
The Board okayed the revival plan for the Cement Research and Development Institute (CR&DI) being executed in three phases.
The meeting was told that the institute was being rehabilitated to meet the testing needs of Pakistan's expanding cement and construction industries. The Board also approved the establishment of eight skill development centres (SDCs) in quake-ravaged areas of Azad Kashmir and NWFP at a total cost of Rs 200 million. PIDC board has already given go-ahead signal for setting up these facilities.
The centres being set up in Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Balakot and Batgram will train youth in trades pertaining to construction, furniture manufacturing and tourism and hospitality. The board also approved Human Resource and Financial Rules of the company.
Advisor/Managing Director Tusdec, Suhael Ahmad, General Manager Skill Development, Colonel (Retd) Syed Anwar Ali Pervez and General Manager, Financial Services, Arif Kitchlew briefed the board members on various projects being initiated by the company.