Government has planned to conduct special skill development courses for the students of Fata and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Malakand to bring them at par with the students of developed areas of the country. This was stated by Federal Minister for Communications Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan while addressing the opening ceremony of a 'Vocational Training Programme' for the calamity-hit persons of Malakand Division held at Construction Technology Training Institute (CTTI) here on Monday.
The programme is being jointly sponsored by government of Japan and South Korea. The opening ceremony was also attended by Choi Choong Joo, Ambassador of South Korea to Pakistan and Chihiro Atsumi, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan. The minister said that during the last three years, CTTI provided training through regular courses in mechanical and civil technologies to 1,399 students, while 567 students are undergoing training. Further, 2,883 students were imparted trainings through 16 Navtec courses. Similarly 1,634 students belonging to Fata have completed their training and 299 students are undergoing training, while 105 students of Malakand Division have received training and 280 students are being trained, the minister added.
He said that such trainings would enable the youth to equip themselves with technical expertise that are required for economic growth of Pakistan. Dr Arbab Alamgir urged the trainees to make most of this vocational training and assured that the government will extend all possible help to the crisis-affected people of Malakand Division. Government is paying special attention to the education and training of young and talented people of the affected areas of Malakand Division, he added.
The minister appreciated the co-operation extended by the governments of Japan and South Korea for providing financial and technical support to the talented youth of Pakistan. Construction Technology Training Institute (CTTI) is an attached department of the Ministry of Communications and was initially established as Construction Machinery Training Centre (CMTC) in 1986 by the Government of Japan through JICA. In 1992, CMTC was upgraded to CMTI. As the training mandate shifted from Construction Machinery to Construction Technology, CMTI was renamed as 'Construction Technology Training Institute'.
CTTI was established with the aim to provide trained operators and skilled mechanics, provide adequate knowledge in planning, employment and supervision of construction machinery and to contribute in the overall development of social infrastructure by producing skilled manpower in a variety of civil works disciplines.