CM sets target to equip one million youth with skills over next three years

LAHORE, Nov 01 (APP):Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target of equipping one million young people with professional and technical skills over the next three years. Chairing a special meeting here on Sunday, she reviewed ongoing skill development projects and received a detailed briefing on training initiatives, employment outcomes and future programmes. She directed the relevant departments to expand skill development programmes in line with emerging market demands. The meeting decided to establish Punjab's first modern Woodworking Center of Excellence, while approving the establishment of Centres of Excellence in electrical, vehicle technology and digital marketing sectors. The CM also approved the launch of agriculture-related training and a Heavy Machinery Operator Certification Programme. She directed the introduction of a modern digital examination system, featuring online registration, digital examination papers and QR codes to improve transparency and efficiency. The proposed digital examination system would have the capacity to accommodate between 200,000 and 600,000 candidates. For the first time in Punjab, courses in 13 languages would be offered under the CM Language Learning Programme. The meeting also approved the establishment of the province's first Cleaning and Cleaner Academy. Under the Punjab Cleaning and Care Academy (PCCA), training would be provided in cleaning support, healthcare, hospitality, domestic assistance and other related fields. According to the briefing, 400,000 young people had completed skill training in Punjab, with more than 45 per cent securing employment, while a considerable number had opted to continue their education. The Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Department had enabled nearly 175,000 trained youth to secure decent employment, while more than 38,000 had obtained jobs abroad. Sector-wise details showed that 113,333 students had completed training in the manufacturing sector, of whom more than 50,000 immediately secured employment. In the IT sector, 111,607 young people received training, with 49,588 earning through employment. In agriculture and livestock, 23,269 individuals completed training, while 10,033 secured jobs. Similarly, 27,069 students received construction-sector training, with 12,026 finding employment. The energy sector trained 35,227 young people, of whom 15,651 secured jobs, while 15,319 completed hospitality and tourism training, with 6,807 immediately entering employment. The briefing further revealed that 90,029 trained individuals secured jobs in local industries, 53,509 opted for self-employment, 38,557 obtained employment abroad and 39,325 chose to continue their education. Under the Empowering Women through Information Technology programme, 3,000 women in rural areas had started earning from home. The meeting was also informed that 15,065 teachers and staff members had received training in industry, management, teaching and skills enhancement. Infrastructure upgrades included 220 computer laboratories, 100 industrial stitching laboratories, 70 solar laboratories and 27 healthcare laboratories, along with VR welding and electric vehicle laboratories. Under the Mahir programme, 25,000 young people would be trained in industrial clusters of Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Gujranwala and Multan. The Global Rozgar programme aims to train another 25,000 youth for the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. The Advance Tech programme would provide international certifications in modern technologies to 7,500 young people, while the Rs2.6 billion Hariyali programme would train 20,000 youth in agriculture and green environment-related fields. The Pehchaan and Umeed programmes had also made progress, with 2,474 transgender persons completing training under the Pehchaan initiative, while 10,000 persons with disabilities would be trained under the Umeed programme. The meeting was informed that 69 TEVTA institutions would train 45,700 young people annually in accordance with the European Qualifications Framework. It was also highlighted that a graduate of a Punjab technical college had secured fourth position in the 48th WorldSkills Competition held in Shanghai, reflecting the international competitiveness of the province's skilled workforce.