Ayesha Saba

The government has initiated vocational training programmes for the youth of Gwadar to equip them with skills so that they can contribute to the accomplishment of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in Balochistan province. “The economic development of any country is intertwined with the skillset of the nation. Due to globalisation and economic liberalisation, skills and human capital development have become crucial factors for socio-economic growth for any nation, and education without skills is like a car without wheels,” said a research officer at the Youth Affairs Section under the Planning Ministry while talking to WealthPK.

“Pakistan Vision 2025 aims to channelise and streamline the energies of Pakistan’s large youth population and realise their immense economic potential,” he said. Technical and vocational education and training centres offer the shortest, swiftest, and cheapest pathway to youth engagement through gainful livelihood opportunities. “Therefore, for countries with huge youth bulge like ours, these vocational institutes constitute the most beneficial instrument for harnessing the potential of their youth population and channelising it into national socio-economic development,” he said.

In this regard, the official said, the current government is planning to approve the establishment of 250 vocational training institutes all over Pakistan on 50% sharing basis with the provinces for skill development of youth. At present, Gwadar has three technical and vocational training centres, i.e. Pak-China Technical and Vocational Training Institute Gwadar, Gwadar Institute of Technology, and Technical Training Centre for Precision Mechanics and Instrument Technology, Gwadar. Collectively, these institutes will lay the foundation for a skilled Gwadar.

“The Technical Training Centre for Precision Mechanics and Instrument Technology, Gwadar, built at a cost of more than Rs1.2 billion, will provide better opportunities to the youth to acquire modern education and technical skills,” he said. According to the official, the objectives of the project include the development of technical know-how in the field of precision mechanics, instrument technology, and dye-and-mould technology.

“In Pakistan, the growing young population is creating some of the best demographic opportunities for development in the world. The demographic dividends can only be achieved with adequate investments in the education and skills of youth, harvesting the fruits of long-term human capital development,” he said. “Uplifting the underprivileged youth by drastically increasing opportunities for their education and training and enhancing their employability through skills development is the need of the hour,” he suggested.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk