Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) Chairman Sikandar Mustafa Khan has approved further expansion of Vocational Training Institute (VTI) of Daultala near Gujar Khan, Rawalpindi district by adding two more trades for trainees.
The chairman accompanied by CEO M Saeed Khan paid a visit to the newest VTI, which started functioning early this year, says a press release issued here on Tuesday.
The VTI has been established at a building provided by a NGO created by former AJK chief secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf, who was also present during the visit to Doultala town located 25 km from Gujar Khan.
Currently, the Doultala VTI has over 160 trainees on its rolls, including about 90 females, being imparted skills in four trades - tailoring, embroidery, electrical home appliances and motorcycle mechanics.
During the visit the local management board urged for two more trades to be taught at the institute, for clinical assistance and computer software expertise. The request being accepted, PVTC will take necessary measures to add the two new trades at the VTI.
The PVTC chairman particularly commended the embroidery and tailoring work done by female trainees within a short period of three months.
CEO Saeed Khan suggested that at the end of each session all the embroidery/stitching material produced by female trainees be shown to the local populace through an exhibition arranged at the premises.
He also suggested establishing a permanent Display Center at Rawalpindi and Gujar Khan for the material produced by trainees at all the seven VTIs functioning in Rawalpindi district.
PVTC has plans to open a network of 500 VTIs across the Punjab province by 2008, under a directive of the chief minister as part of the poverty alleviation programme.
So far 132 VTIs are in operation, which have helped to provide gainful employment to about 43,000 Mustahqeen-i-Zakat financed by Mora stipends extended by local zakat councils in various districts of the province.