LAHORE: Lack of skilled human resources is one of the biggest problems being faced by the industrial sector. Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC) must develop human resources according to the needs of industry.
These views were expressed by the President Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry Kashif Anwar while speaking at MoU signing ceremony between LCCI and PVTC.
LCCI Senior Vice President Zafar Mahmood Chaudhry, MD Punjab Vocational Training Council Mehboob Ahmad, LCCI Executive Committee Members Muhammad Tauqeer Malik and Jabbar Khalid were also present on the occasion.
The LCCI President said that ongoing economic scenario has manifold grown the importance of skilled labour. He said that our labour is not skilled which decreases their chances of employability.
Kashif Anwar urged PVTC to introduce industrial demand driven programs to produce skill manpower. He said that LCCI has already inked Memorandum of Understanding with various educational institutes and universities and they have asked LCCI how to design programs that can meet the needs of the industry.
LCCI President informed PVTC that Lahore Chamber has more than 40 thousand members and they are being facilitated through one window smart services. He also emphasized the importance of liaison between the two institutions.
MD Punjab Vocational Training Council Mehboob Ahmad said that PVTC is imparting all the basic skills which are very important for survival. He said that at present, the required labour force is not available for the industry while unemployment rate is also high. He said that 65% of the population is youth who are our asset and can change the destiny of Pakistan. What required is that we determine their direction.
LCCI President pointed out that training courses like SMD lights, mobile assembling, grey and blue pottery, hand knitted items, traditional items, handicrafts and handmade carpets must be introduced as the associated industries are facing shortage of skilled human resources. He mentioned that there are many such arts which are disappearing with the passage of time. He called to promote handmade arts which are in high demand at the international level.
The MD PVTC emphasized the importance of IT and said that LCCI must help PVTC to have liaison with this sector.
Later, LCCI and PVTC inked a Memorandum of Understanding. LCCI President Kashif Anwar and MD PVTC Mehboob Ahmad signed the MoU.
According to the MoU, LCCI and PVTC would collaborate to conduct regular surveys and workshops to identify industry specific skill gaps and incorporate them into PVTC’s curriculum.
Joint committees comprising PVTC and LCCI representatives would be constituted to review and update training programs regularly. LCCI and PVTC would collaborate and organize seminars, workshops and networking events where researchers and industry experts would share insights and findings.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024