PM Kakar for equipping youth with latest knowledge

QUETTA: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Tuesday termed skilled human resource the most important asset for a nation and said that effective training strategy for youth was crucial to meet the needs of the contemporary world.

Addressing the launching ceremony of PM’s Youth Skill Development Programme, he said in the era of technology and artificial-intelligence, there was a need to equip the youth with necessary up-to-date knowledge.

PM Kakar said imparting skills to one person did not restrict to just him but the families associated with him and also the coming generations benefit from it, the official news agency reported.

He said the country was in dire need of such initiatives of social development which resulted in the overall uplift of the people.

Caretaker Balochsitan Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki said the provincial government was committed to providing every possible opportunity to the people of the province.

He said the provincial government has decided to set up the Balochistan Skilled Development Fund under the supervision of the Planning and Development Department.

He said the government of China has shown interest to provide a $60 million grant for the development of Balochistan, of which the provincial government has the intention to use 50 percent on skills development of youth.

Caretaker Federal Minister for Education Madad Ali Sindhi said imparting skills to youth was the main ingredient of empowering them by helping them qualify for employment.

He said the launch of the programme from Quetta was significant because it encouraged the local youth, who deserved it the most, to benefit from it.

National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) Executive Director Amir Jan said 4.5 million people in the country enter the labour stream every year with only 1.5 having proper skills. He said the objective of the programme was to provide skilled training to 56,000 people all across the country and mentioned that the skills were linked with international certification.

Provincial revenue minister Amjad Rasheed expressed gratitude to the prime minister for the launch of the programme for the youth, which he said would end their dilemma of joblessness.

The prime minister gave away cheques among the talented youth of Balochistan. He also launched the Electronic Public Procurement Programme on the occasion.