Turkey's state-run aid agency opened a Centre for Pro-skills on Monday in port city of Karachi, aiming to support vocational education, and training for underprivileged youths. The centre has been established by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) in collaboration with Karigar Training Institute, a local vocational training institution, in southern district of Karachi.

TIKA has set up a fully equipped computer lab, and refurbished classrooms, apart from providing furniture at the centre. Turkish Consul General in Karachi, Tolga Ucak, head of Karigar institute, Rashidullah Sheikh, and TIKA's Karachi coordinator, Ibrahim Katirci attended a ceremony to inaugurate the centre, which will help students from the city's slum areas attain vocational training.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Turkish Consul General said the establishment of the state-of-the-art centre was an effort to provide skilled manpower to the industry. "Karachi is Pakistan's largest city, and the industrial and the commercial capital. It requires a large skilled manpower to run the industry sector," Ucak observed adding, "This (centre) is a step from TIKA to help provide skilled manpower to Karachi's industries."

The Consul General assured that Turkey would continue to support Pakistan to overcome unemployment, "which is the biggest hurdle in way of development." TIKA coordinator, Katirci said that following the establishment of the centre, youngsters from lower and middle income brackets would be able to acquire quality skills, which would subsequently help them in obtaining employment. For his part, Rashindullah Sheikh thanked Turkey and TIKA for establishing the pro-skills centre, expressing hope that this cooperation would continue into the future.-PR

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019